Velcourt and the majority of its clients now market their grain through Openfield and before that, since 1999, with Centaur. Centaur and Grainfarmers merged in 2008 to form Openfield. The key to the success of the relationship between the two companies is commitment, trust and transparency. Velcourt meet with the Openfield marketing team regularly to discuss future marketing strategy and to review historic performance.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Openfield Grain, Velcourt Marketing Services acts as an agent for the marketing of Velcourt’s grain. There is a close working relationship between Openfield staff and the Velcourt management team before a crop is planted, to the final delivery of grain. Crops and varieties are selected on a farm-by-farm basis to take advantage of local outlets for produce, allied to the crops each farm can grow successfully. Velcourt and Openfield work together to develop added value marketing opportunities.
Careful sampling after harvest and management of grain in store ensures that costly rejections are minimised. Opportunities are taken to aggregate samples together particularly for export cargoes with the benefits being passed back to Velcourt’s clients.
Bad debts are avoided by Openfield’s careful management as to whom they are selling supported by debtor insurance.
