Supporting agriculture for seventy years
Coastal Farmers’ Cooperative Limited was formally launched with the intention of securing fertilizer, diesel, fuel and other farming requisites at the best possible prices for its members.
WHEN 23 Umhlali and North Coast farmers, led by Bill Robbins, sat around a table 70 years ago on 11 July 1946, they had no idea their discussions would result in the establishment of a leading agriculture ‘onestop-shop’ along the coast of KZN.
At this meeting, the Coastal Farmers’ Cooperative Limited was formally launched with the intention of securing fertilizer, diesel, fuel and other farming requisites at the best possible prices for its members.
The first head office, as well as a general dealer, workshop and garage were established and traded as the ‘Lower Tugela Co-op’ on the premises currently known as Coastals Umhlali.
The workshop and garage ventures were short-lived as the focus turned to the core business of providing farmers with their agricultural needs.
Where it all began
Through its unique business philosophy, the vision, skills and dedication of its directors, executive and staff over the years, and the continued support of up to four generations of farmers, ‘Coastals’ (as it has become affectionately known) has grown into the largest purchaser of farming requisites along the KZN coastal belt.
By the end of the first year the membership had increased from 24 to 66. In 1952, the head office moved to Durban.
It was situated in various city premises, before moving to its own building in Flanders Drive, Mount Edgecombe in 2000.
Eric Knight, with 25 years of service, was the first General Manager, having started with Coastals in 1948.
His son, Cedric joined the co-op in 1966 and became General Manager eight years later when his father retired.
Cedric retired in 2005 and handed over the reins to the current General Manager, Lindsay Smith.
Tough times
Over the years, Coastals has not only survived crippling droughts, devastating floods and momentous social-political change, but has flourished to represent the consumer voice of more than 1 400 predominantly sugar, banana and citrus farmers and 18 branches.
Through this established buying power and credit rating, Coastals has ensured that its members have, for over seven decades, benefitted from the highest quality agricultural requisites at the lowest price, and is set to continue this fine tradition in the future.
Coastals extensive branch network covers the length and breadth of the KZN north and south coasts, Pongola to Port Edward.
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