LW SURPHLIS STORES UP 65 YEARS OF SUCCESS

LW Surphlis & Son Ltd, Northern Ireland’s leading agricultural merchant, is gearing up to mark its 65th year in business. Founded in 1948 by Lowry Surphlis, the business is now managed by Maurice Surphlis, with the help of his two sons, Colin and Adrian.

Thursday 12 December 2013

LW SURPHLIS STORES UP 65 YEARS OF SUCCESS

Initially started as a Post Office, hardware and grocery shop, the business has expanded to include bulk farm animal feeds, fertiliser, agricultural hardware, farm supplies, manufacture of agricultural sheds, building products and a general haulage fleet, which now covers Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. The firm’s lorries, with their distinctive red and cream livery, are a common sight on our roads.

In 1987 LW Surphlis & Son commenced producing bespoke animal feed blends to the requirements of individual customers. Milled on site, LWS brands have proved very popular over the years.

Maurice Surphlis says that improvement and investment are important cornerstones of his business strategy:

“I have to give thanks for the tremendous support and loyalty of my dedicated customers over the past 65 years. It is due to the continued custom of the local farming community that I have been able to grow and expand the business in this way.

“Farmers are on a continuous drive to maximise efficiencies on their farms and they need their suppliers to be doing the same. We consistently strive to improve the products and services we offer our customers to ensure we remain their supplier of choice.

“Over the years, with the support of Ulster Bank, we have re-invested in the business, bringing in new product lines, gradually building the business to ensure sustainable growth.”

After 65 years trading, the Surphlis family continues to expand the company’s operations, as they unveil a new 22,000sq ft ‘state-of-the-art’ bulk storage facility. This latest venture completes a substantial 5 year investment programme, which enables the company to maximise capacity to ensure it can continue to meet the needs of its customers.

LWS have 70 faithful employees, most of whom are from local families, and have worked in the business for many years. This is a credit to the Surphlis family as they have managed to sustain and grow so many jobs at a time when other businesses are contracting.

Ellvena Graham, Head of Ulster Bank Northern Ireland, says that the Bank plays an important part in business development:

“LW Surphlis are a great, local agricultural business that is making a significant contribution to the economy through its own business and through its 70 strong workforce. We are delighted to have helped LW Surphlis & Son Ltd with this investment and to mark 65 years of success to date.”

Ellvena continues, “At Ulster Bank we believe that we have a vital role to play in helping local agri-food businesses achieve their local and global ambitions. We are strongly committed to supporting the continued expansion and growth of this important sector which is why we have launched specific support packages for farmers and developed a dedicated team of local Agri specialists.”

Further details on the range of Ulster Bank’s support for business customers can be found at www.ulsterbank.co.uk/ni/business.ashx

Photo Caption: Ellvena Graham, Head of Ulster Bank, Northern Ireland with Cormac McKervey, Senior Agricultural Manager, Ulster Bank and Maurice Surphlis, Managing Director, LW Surphlis.

Thursday 12 December 2013