JCB dealer RSM Beare will expand its sales and service territory to cover all of Cornwall, as well as mid-to-south Devon, following the acquisition of the former Truro Farm Machinery (TFM) depot.
This addition has reportedly ensured continuity for JCB customers, with the continued employment of TFM employees to maintain parts and service support after the retirement of owner Bob Jones.
John Smith, JCB Agriculture managing director, said: “These neighbouring JCB dealers have a very successful track record with an excellent reputation for service, so we are very supportive of the agreement that has created a larger, more sustainable Beares operation supporting JCB customers in south-west England.”
Bob Jones added: “My priorities when considering what to do with the business as I approached retirement were to ensure uninterrupted support to the valued customers purchasing JCB and other machinery from us over the years, and continued employment for all the wonderful staff who work here.
“Through the agreement we reached with the Roberts family at RSM Beare, those objectives have been achieved in full, and I wish everyone a successful transition and a positive future together.”
RSM Beare employs 35 people across depots at Stoke Canon near Exeter and Coad’s Green near Launceston, in addition to the 12 TFM staff members.
RSM Beare director, Shaun Roberts, said: “We’re delighted to have reached this agreement because we’ve taken on a really good team of people in Cornwall and a loyal customer base built up over the years thanks to the unstinting service they provide.
“It’s a great fit in terms of our JCB and other franchises, so it’s very much a case of “business as usual” down in Cornwall – and we know that Bob will still be around tinkering with old tractors and chatting to customers.”
Fellow director David Roberts, said: “We now have three readily accessible depots on the A30 right down the spine of the south-west, giving our workshop technicians with their fleet of fully-equipped service vehicles the ability to reach any part of the two counties for machine break-downs and on-farm servicing.”
The area of north Devon, covered by JCB dealer Robert Cole Ltd at Holsworthy, is unaffected by the change.