We are pleased to announce that Fox & Lillie Rural recently acquired Southern Wool Traders in Gunning, New South Wales. The Fox & Lillie Group has had a longstanding relationship with Southern Wool Traders for over twenty years, and the acquisition has been a logical step.
Southern Wool Traders has built up a successful business over 36 years and Fox & Lillie Rural will continue to service their existing customer base as per normal with the added benefits of dealing with one of Australia’s largest integrated wool brokers, buyers, exporters, and early-stage wool processors.
Fox & Lillie Rural’s Managing Director, Jonathan Lillie said that the area has both now, and historically, always been a very strong Merino wool growing area.
“Gunning is one of the original wool growing areas in Australia and we felt as though geographically this acquisition was a very good opportunity for the Fox & Lillie Rural business, and we look forward to servicing woolgrowers in the area.”
The Fox & Lillie group is an Australian, family-owned business and has proudly celebrated their 75th company anniversary last year. The company prides themselves on providing an outstanding service and innovative marketing options and has a strong focus on supporting regional development and investing in local people.
Southern Wool Traders owners, Greg McDonald and John Burton have stayed on in the short term to support the transition of the business over to Fox & Lillie Rural. Ben Alchin who has worked at the store for over six years will stay on as a Wool Buyer and is a fantastic addition to the Fox & Lillie Rural team.
Justin Beer and Toby Haylock who worked in Fox & Lillie Rural’s Wagga Wagga wool store operations, relocated to Gunning in the early new year to support the company’s expansion in the area. Justin Beer has taken a Wool Marketing Representative and Store Manager role, and Toby Haylock has taken a Wool Buyer role. Another member of the Gunning team is Sal Williams, who works as a store person.
Under the new owners of Fox & Lillie Rural, the Gunning based wool store will broaden its focus, offering woolgrowers not only store door buying, but the company’s full services of fixed-price wool brokerage, quick turnaround from the shed to auction, services with prompt payment, and on-farm pickup.
John Burton said that the acquisition would mean “business as usual” for their existing client base under the Fox & Lillie Rural banner, with the added benefits of more marketing opportunities for their wool including wool brokerage services.
Fox & Lillie Rural have a good presence at the weekly wool auctions plus offer a wide range of selling alternatives. Alternative methods include their weekly Price-On-Result tender sale, privately negotiated sales, Wooltrade 24/7 internet selling and Direct Mill Contracts.
The business’ integration with their parent wool export company, Fox & Lillie, will mean that woolgrowers are able to connect directly with international wool users which provides important selling advantages and comprehensive market information. The company has a strong history in wool processing and is a shareholder in a specialised open tops processing factory in China, which is an industry leader in high quality open tops supplied throughout the world.
Fox & Lillie Rural has developed a very strong presence in direct wool buying and wool brokerage services and look forward to continuing to provide a sound and professional service to woolgrowers in the Gunning and surrounding areas.
