New Laneve integrity brand to work with leading carpet producers

17 Jul '09

4 min read

The wool purchased by Glen Eden will be sourced from a group of growers on Banks Peninsula offering a coordinated supply commitment. The group currently involves 20 farms and has the potential to involve the majority of growers on Banks Peninsula to supply contracted wool on a long-term basis.

A spokesman for the Southern Bays Farm Discussion Group, Chris Chamberlain, said the group had pooled its combined wool clip under a strict quality assurance programme three years ago. Its aim was to establish a link with a top end user, to supply high quality wool, and to create and market a niche fibre linked with a unique Banks Peninsula story.

"We are all growers with our lives invested in an industry that is not performing,” Mr Chamberlain said "We have been very proactive in trying to achieve a better result for growers, and supporting the programme led by Wool Partners and Wool Grower Holdings was a natural response to that need. We are excited that they have been able to respond so effectively to our approach by finding a partner with a long-term need for our wool, and one operating in markets that have clear potential for growth."

The wool supplied to Glen Eden will be scoured by Kaputone Wool Scour in Christchurch and spun by Christchurch Carpet Yarns prior to export.

Wool to be supplied under the agreement with Bellbridge, as with other agreements to be announced as they are completed, will be sourced from Wool Partners' existing grower relationships and from expanded supply through new grower commitments.

The president of Bellbridge, Bruce Bell, said the agreement with Wool Partners was a significant step forward for the company. “This arrangement binds us to a supplier that, like us, is committed to the highest standards of product quality and integrity.

“The natural qualities of wool, combined with environmentally responsible manufacturing processes, are an important factor in the appeal we hold for our customers. The Laneve brand will capture these values in a way that we are confident our customers will recognise and support.”

Wool Partners International