The first-ever Farmlands Horticulture Centre Coming Soon to Hastings – and a new Taranaki store

Farmlands is bringing customers in the North Island its first-ever Farmlands Horticulture Hub, due to open this August in Hastings. It will be joined by a bulk rural supplies and retail store next year on the same site, creating a one-stop site for all Farmlands customers in the region. Mid-2025, a brand-new Farmlands store will also open in New Plymouth.

The move reflects Farmlands' commitment to supporting the growth of horticulture in Hawke's Bay and the recovery of the local agricultural sector following the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Farmlands CEO Tanya Houghton says that Farmlands is investing in the region in a way that reflects its unique character.

“We’re bringing our first Farmlands Horticulture Hub to our North Island heartland - Hawke’s Bay. It’s New Zealand’s largest apple, pear and squash-growing region, and our second-largest wine-growing region. It’s also where Farmlands originally started. The new hub demonstrates our commitment to invest in the region in support of our horticulture customers.”

“We have been looking for a new location for our New Plymouth store for some time. So are excited to also announce a new store will be built in 2025 to allow us to better meet the needs of our customers and shareholders in the Taranaki region.”

Farmlands’ future New Plymouth store will be at 35 Hudson Road, Bell Block.

The new Farmlands Horticulture Hub, located at 7 Barnes Place, Twyford, will be a dedicated facility designed to cater specifically to the needs of horticulturalists, offering a full array of products and expert advice essential for the upcoming spring season.

Chris Binns, Farmlands Head of Sales & Strategy - Horticulture, says the co-op’s aim is to be the go-to Hawke’s Bay crop protection specialist, working hand-in-hand with commercial growers by offering them the best possible advice, products and service.

“The new site will be more accessible to customers, and will enable us to practice proper dangerous goods management, so we can safely keep more ag chem stock locally, ensuring consistent availability of essential supplies for local growers.”

He adds “We’re also growing our team of horticulture experts in the region, so there’ll be more support on-hand locally for a wider range of customers.”