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Farm Machinery Manufacturer Business Plan
Executive Summary
Kouros Brothers Ltd. is an agriculture machinery and implements manufacturer importer and authorized reseller that sells A-Z series of heavy machinery and systems for Potatoes, Vegetables, Cereals, Stubble, and beach cleaning turn key projects and machinery. We have also patented and piloted four innovative machinery and systems the last 6 years for Vegetable and Cereal productions. Is also the sole and exclusive agent and dealer of 10 main agriculture manufacturers in Europe. It has managed to create communication links and to export its series of machinery in Middle East and Syria the last 3 years.
Kouros Brothers Ltd. has an experienced management team with direct knowledge of the industry, extensive research experience, and unique administrative skills. Its team includes Mr. Kouros and Mr Panikos Stella live in Larnaca, Cyprus. Both Owners have compiled an extensive list of customers/potential customers, vendors, and contacts for equipment consignment.
New Opportunity
Last week it was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment that EU has available 256 million Euro for funding from 65%-80% of all units or producers intending to modernize and use technological advances in order to improve customers’ (Agriculture Producers’) product quality and to be able to export goods into European markets at competitive prices.
We have a good reputation locally, but sales are slow because local farmers cannot buy new equipment every year. With Cyprus’ admission to the EU, this large amount of funding will let farmers buy more and newer equipment. However, the local farmers will only buy equipment they know to be effective; the best way to convince them, in our experience, is to bring a sample of equipment to their fields to demonstrate.
Kouros Brothers Ltd. has good earnings and assets, but we do not have enough cash on hand to buy the wide range of demonstration equipment we need to meet the sales potential created by the upcoming Government funds to our customers. The company intents to employ local individuals and to provide extensive training about its products and services in order to promote its sales. Loyal customers help to expand the company’s business area by word-of-mouth.
We have already identified a list of potential customers and communities that are willing and able to try its new product series. Even more so, the pilot equipments will be used for the upcoming October International fair for Agriculture and Livestock that will take place, at Nicosia, Cyprus. And also, the company plans to participate in the Thesalloniki state Agricultural fair that will take place on the 28th January next. As a sole agent and sales representative for Cyprus, Greece and Syria for some series of Wheat planting systems, the company needs to promote its series of products to all available marketing opportunities.
The company is seeking funding of the amount of £50,000 for the purpose of expanding the business. Expansion plans include the purchase of additional equipments allowing the company to promote and to demonstrate its products and services, and also by hiring additional personnel. This loan will be paid back in 6 years, with principal payments of £5,833/year, at 8.5% interest. This is on top of the existing 10,000 loan, which will be paid back on the same time frame, at roughly £1,666/year.
With this new demonstration equipment, and well-funded customers, our projected revenues for Year 1 are expected to reach £274,200, and up to £400,000 by Year 5.
1.1 Objectives
The Kouros Brothers Ltd. directors believe that, there is a current untapped market opportunity for agriculture machinery because, existing providers of agriculture machinery and implements are too diversified to serve the increasingly specialized needs of the potato segment, by ignoring the crop needs for mechanization of Vegetables, Cereal, wheat and livestock sectors.
The company’s coverage area is constantly increasing, as customers are becoming aware of the company’s presence. European community offers a real business opportunity for such expansion, because now, there are 256 million Euro available for agriculture funding and support by EU agriculture committee, left to the Cyprus Government, to fund the Local Farmers and Agriculture producers for upgrading their production effectiveness and efficiency.
1.2 Mission
Kouros Brothers Ltd. mission is to become THE exclusive full-service equipment manufacturer and authorized importer, sales, and service company in agriculture machinery and implements in Cyprus and to expand its business to Middle East, with the ability to satisfy all needs of Livestock farmers and Agriculture producers.
Therefore, the company’s strategy is to create a limited geographical niche for itself, where there will be no potential competitors. Kouros Brothers Ltd. aims to offer high-quality agriculture equipments and machinery for crop mechanization of potato, vegetables and wheat crops at a price which is competitive in comparison to other premium-quality commercial machinery manufacturers in the local market.
1.3 Keys to Success
Kouros Brothers Ltd.’s keys to success will include:
- A high level of quality in its product line.
- A-Z equipment mechanization series for Vegetables, Cereals, Potatoes & Livestock.
- Maintaining and growing its referral networks to generate new and repeat sales.
- Significant investments in research and development of machinery with the aim to focus on precisely controlled equipment (Coriander seed, carrot machines etc.).
- Improving efficiencies of operations and to reduce the crop producers operating costs.
- Link with Consulting offices for Agriculture and Scientific support to its Customers.
- The machinery and Systems of Kouros Brothers Ltd. aim to help Cypriot farmers and Agriculture producers to export their products in the European market and to obey all European directives for product quality.
Company Summary
Kouros Brothers Ltd. is a manufacturer of heavy Agriculture equipments and Euro, with one location in industrial Estate area, Larnaca. The company began its operations since 1963 with little capital investment. The company combined 40 years of experience in the Agriculture machinery and Implements field to generate a large customer base, where until recently owned 80% of the local Potato machinery market.
The company is specialized into Potato planting and mechanization. After Cyprus accession into EU the company’s Directors decided to expand their field of products and to diversify into Cereal, vegetables and livestock. Kouros Brothers Ltd. hopes to initially make a successful effort to secure start-up financing to implement a new business opportunity.
2.1 Company Ownership
Kouros Brothers Ltd. is a limited liability company. Mr. Kouros Stella Zither, Mr. Panikos Stella, and Mr. Andreas Stella are the shareholders, owning 66%, 26% and 8% of the share capital, respectively.
2.2 Location & Facilities
The company has one office currently located in Industrial Area, at Our Town. The factory is only 3.5 kilometers from the center of town and is located on the front line of the industrial area. It has a 500 sq. meter showroom and is visible from the main road.
The factory has 3000m2 of shop floor area, where all manufacturing equipments and facilities are located and used for either maintenance or manufacturing of equipments and implements.
The factory facilities are open from 07:00 – 17:00 hours, Monday to Friday. The company does receive after hours calls or on weekends and provides assistance as needed.
2.3 Company History
Kouros Brothers Ltd. was founded in Our Town, Cyprus in 1963, to manufacture and to sell a complete A-Z series of potatoes crop mechanization. The company was formed by the Stella Zither family: Mr. Kouros Stella Zither, Mr. Panikos Stella, and Mr. Andreas Stella.
Kouros Brothers Ltd. has its principal offices and manufacturing unit of 3000 m2 , located at Our Town, Industrial estate area, Cyprus.
We have good earnings and Capital Assets (the value of the land and store), but do not have enough cash on hand to buy new samples of the equipment to demonstrate their effectiveness to farmers.
Products and Services
Kouros Brothers Ltd. is a manufacturer and Authorized dealer of imported Agriculture machinery and implements. The company is a manufacturer of the Potato A-Z mechanization such as Potato Planters, Diggers, Harvesters, Inter row cultivators, Taper Machines and Potato Fork-lift tractor mounted machines, Soil Preparation Machinery and Implements, Cereal Machinery and Implements, Transplanting machinery, Irrigation systems, Vegetable small seed planting machines, Wheat and Barley mechanization, Animal food factory and packing systems and Fire Fighting units designed for Agriculture areas.
Kouros Brothers Ltd. takes pride in having brought several new items for Livestock and Vegetable equipments that were otherwise unknown, such as the manure spreader machines, Cereal mechanization, and soil preparation machines. We also have designed and patented a new vegetable seed planting machine for Coriander, Onions, Beans, peas, broad beans, ground nuts, garlic, etc.
Kouros Brothers Ltd. has obtained the authorization to be a distributor for Beach Cleaning machines (French Patented systems). We are also a sole agent for beach creating technology and systems implementation.
Cereals
In the case of cereals, the farmers plant 50-120 kgs of seeds per hectare, while they could have the same results and even more production with 18 kgs seed per hectare. Cereal planting systems can save up to 70-100 kgs seed that is wasted in each hectare without reason.
Stubble Cultivator Implement
Stubble is an easy and inexpensive food for cows, sheep and other animals, and it decreases the use of fertilizers by 50%. Farmers who acquire the knowledge to increase stubble create their own forage, with the utilization of stable and barley.
If stubble is left in the fields, it can cause serious problems to the Wheat producers. The result is that soil is overloaded, there is a decrease of the fertility of soil and there is a continuous danger of fires which can burn hundreds of hectares of virgin forests and cause disasters to the environment as happens very ofter in summer. (EU directives have forbidden field-burning.) Our unique Stubble cultivator machine can increase Wheat production and also can decrease the producer’s operating costs. By not exploiting stubble, farmers waste of tens of millions of pounds per year.
Potatoes
The potato producers lose huge quantities of potatoes that are abandoned in the fields without being collected, because they are only 5-10 cm below soil surface. From research, we found out that more than 1-1.5 tonnes of potatoes are abandoned in the soil in each hectare (1,000 t. meters), and in monetary terms we can say that the profit of the producer is abandoned in the field.
Our unique series of Potato mechanization systems and hectare that are exclusively manufactured into our Factory are tested for simplicity and are made with the best materials can warranty the potato quality and Low operating costs to the potato producer. These machines are satisfying the European directives requirements for Potato quality.
Livestock-farming
The cows in Cyprus produce 4-5 tonnes milk per year instead of 10-12 tones per year. For solving such problems our company has created last year a Pilot System of Cereals that can increase cereal production up to 1,000 -1,500 kgs per hectare clover for the livestock-farming and mixing of hay and pellets.
Our company has all the mechanization series and the associates with technology and know-how for animal food preparation and production from Cypriot materials such as Lolium, Loutex, Maze, Vetch, AA and trefoil. Compost Machinery and Manure Spreader. Our Company has well-established European associates with the know-how and the technology to create compost, helping not only in farming sewage problems but also in quality of soil fertilization.
Wheat Planting Machines
The Wheat producer, in order to plant seed into 100 hectares, needs to use 250 kgs of Seed and to go to his field at least 4 times. This means 4 times more operating costs and even more so, Wheat prices dropped by 40% with the Cyprus accession into EU.
Our machine is designed such that it can do all four processes–soil cultivation, fertilizing and planting on line, seed cover with soil and corrugation–in one go. The producer needs only 80 kgs per 100 hectares, instead of 250 kgs. Fertilizer is dropped just 1 cm from soil surface, reducing fertilization costs by 50%, because the fertilizer is not moved away by wind or rain.
Seed Vegetable Planting Machines
Through research and development over the last 3 years, we have managed to create and to patent a unique Seed vegetable machine for a variety of vegetables such as onions, beans, garlic, coriander, etc. This machine is capable of planting all mentioned Vegetables by minimizing operational costs by up to 70% and can have the products made as per European Union directives as concern Size, Weight and Quality.
The company has already tested this machine for 3 years with several Cypriot vegetable producers and the results were beyond expectations. The machine has already been registered and patented rights are exclusively owned by our company. (Patent No. CY2351)
Market Analysis Summary
The overall market for agriculture machinery and implements is immense.
This business plan has identified over 1,800 agricultural producers and farmers in the local market that have a potential need to maintain and/or win customers or even more so are striving to survive. The funding schemes for agriculture and livestock support set by EU will allow them to stay competitive and this business opportunity is all about it.
Last week it was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment that EU has available 256 million Euro for funding from 65%-80% of all units or producers intending to modernize and use technological advances in order to improve customers’ (Agriculture Producers’) product quality and to be able to export goods into European markets at competitive prices.
In reality, all agriculture and livestock businesses are in need of our products, because there are only 3 potential competitors locally who import or manufacture agricultural machinery and implements. Those involved with Potato mechanization have copied some of our unique series of products, whereas only 2 of them are involved with Cereal and Wheat implements. Kouros Brothers Ltd. has all machinery and implement series of equipments that will allow the Cypriot agriculturer and Livestock producer to stay competitive into European markets.
4.1 Market Segmentation
Our market segmentation scheme is fairly straightforward, and focuses on all agricultural and livestock sectors. The information contained in our customer analysis table is taken directly from the last statistics report published by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Tourism website and clearly shows that our largest market potential is more concentrated on the following sectors:
- Potato Crop Mechanization
- Cereals Crop Mechanization, including Wheat and Barley
- Vegetables crop Mechanization
- Packing Technology
- Livestock Machinery
- Beach Cleaning Machines and Beach Creation methodologies
- Fire Fighting Systems for rural areas
For more than 35 years, the company has owned almost 80% of the potato mechanization market. However, due to negative growth opportunities in this sector the last years, the prospects of this sector were unclear. Therefore, the company in order to survive has decided to invest in sectors such as new vegetable machine designs that will satisfy the vegetable producer needs (lower operational costs, low investment costs, simple machines, etc.) and also simultaneously through dealership of the main European agriculture machinery and implements manufacturers to become their sole agent and promoter in Cyprus and the Middle East area.
After 40 years of experience in agricultural machinery and implements manufacturing and design, the company has identified its strengths and weaknesses and has focused on vegetable, Cereals, Livestock and Beach Cleaning implements and technologies, allowing it to offer the same quality of service and support as are afforded by the larger businesses.
The strategy used for years was to bring in selected products, and then attempt to find a buyer. This resulted in inventory overstock, and obsolescence. The company already knows the customers’ needs and wants, therefore, as part of its marketing mix has decided to use the start up funding for buying a series of 6 main machinery that will have the most predicted demand and via marketing and promotion will try to promote its complete series of products.
After sales, services and spare parts provision to repeat customers is also part of our new Marketing strategy. The aim of the new marketing approach is to keep the existing customers and not to start building a new market share. Long-term relationships with customers is one of the key-success factors mentioned earlier and was one of the reasons that company survived and earned their business. The company expects that by implementing a correct marketing mix, we will increase our share in this market segment by offering the same value-added service and support benefits that its commercial clients demand.
4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy
Our choice of target markets is based on comprehensive experience within the agriculture industry coupled with an in-depth understanding of the customers’ needs for more than 40 years.
We have taken a unique approach to satisfy our customers needs and wants and also simultaneously to answer all their questions and to air their fears about the effectiveness and efficiency of our products. The company identified that only the on-site testing of the agriculture machinery in the customers’ fields could calm down even the most resistive and questionable customer.
The company cannot be successful by just waiting for the customer to come for ordering. Instead, we must focus on the specific market segments whose needs match more to our series of products. Focusing on targeted segments is the key to company’s future. Therefore, the company’s focus and marketing message will be not only the customer needs but also the after service and spare parts services offered. A good marketing mix will develop company’s message, communicate it, and fulfill its commitment to excellence.
Developing a market strategy is a departure from the way the company has been managed in the past. We will change the paradigm of being a product- and price-focused sales organization, to that of becoming a customer- and market-focused organization, aiming in sharing responsibility for customer satisfaction. We will accomplish this paradigm shift through the implementation of a balanced and continuous market research for agriculture needs and technology demands. Planning and implementing specific strategies for each of the seven identified segments will be an ongoing process, and we will will consult with marketing specialists, and our manufacturers, to further refine these efforts as we develop an effective marketing plan.
4.3 Competition and Buying Patterns
Our customers want equipment that works well. They are paying a great deal of their annual income to purchase a machine, and will not buy anything unless they have a clear demonstration that it works, or a recommendation about buying from another farmer they trust. The Cypriot farmer and agriculture producer is the last minute man. He plans to buy a machinery only when it is critical and necessary, and when he identify the need, he wants immediate delivery.
Kouros Brothers Ltd.’s closest competitors are located in Next Town, Other Town and Our Town. They include the following five companies:
- IJK. Ltd.
- UVX. Ltd
- ABC. Ltd
All above listed competitors are offering standardized agriculture forbidden and implements for the potato industry and only 2 seek to satisfy somehow other sectors of the agriculture and Livestock Industry.