Agri-tech software business KisanHub has brought in a new head of sales, marrying agricultural experience with the latest software.
Alistair Winter has previously spent two decades in the fresh produce industry and comes from a farming background in Lincolnshire. He wants to improve efficiencies and profitability across the entire supply chain.
“Creating sustainable returns for everyone in the supply chain is what drives me,” Mr Winter said. “I can see that this technology can improve the way time is spent, removing a lot of paperwork and enabling different systems to talk to each other. The industry has been very paper-focussed in the past but with ever increasing inflationary pressures and tight margins, making the best use of time and effort will save money.”
Mr Winter has spent 15 years at Burgess Farms, working in procurement and sales, managing relationships and agreements with retailers, processors and growers.
“We supplied retailers and processors with carrots, parsnips and beetroot 52 weeks a year and my role was to work with the team to ensure we were joined up delivering consistent, reliable supply from growers through the packhouse and onto end customers and consumers.”
KisanHub aims to provide software solutions that give whole teams access to the same information in real-time, including collecting crop quality data, in-field and store monitoring and paperless load passports.
“There’s so much data available but a lot of it could be presented and used better,” explained Mr Winter. “For farmers, there is no average year anymore, so having really accurate, detailed information will give increased opportunities to make them more profitable.”
He joined the KisanHub team in mid-April after CEO Giles Barker created the new role. “I met Giles in November and had a very open conversation about what we were both looking for. After 15 years at Burgess Farms, I wanted to make a meaningful change and be part of a team that creates more efficient, sustainable and resilient agri-food supply chains. I’ve seen how our customers have embraced data and software to become more empowered and profitable businesses so I’m passionate about seeing this across the whole sector to future-proof it for future generations,” he says.
Mr Barker added: “It became clear we needed someone to lead the commercial side of our company, someone with drive, plus knowledge and experience in this brilliant, complex industry. I’ve known Alistair professionally for some time and we are thrilled for him to join our dedicated team, committed to the future and more sustainable supply chains.”
“The KisanHub team is really engaging; everyone is very collaborative which makes for a great working culture. I’m really excited about getting new clients on board and genuinely making a difference both for KisanHub and the wider sector,” Mr Winter concluded.