Case Studies
Issue No. 14 - December/January 2004
Australian Farmers Fuel
Farm Friend
Andy Fischer started in the oil industry at a service station in Port Wakefield at the age of 16. In June 1998 Andy made a proposal to the Farmers Federation of South Australia outlining a business model for delivering price competitive fuel to regional consumers and primary producers.
Since late 1999, Australian Farmers Fuel has grown from one entrepreneur with a laptop and a vision to a substantial business with more than 50 retail outlets and over 26 staff.
Trading as SAFF in its retail guise, there is much more of this multifaceted company behind the pump. Andy acknowledges the best thing about his idea was its timing, bringing a novel and cost—effective solution to regional Australia at a time when major oil companies were withdrawing from that market quickly.
The SAFF head office is located at Pooraka, with retail outlets throughout rural South Australia, Alice Springs and western New South Wales. SAFF has set up a network of over 50 branded Service Stations throughout South Australia, western Victoria and western New South Wales. SAFF also operates in conjunction with NTFF (Northern Territory Farmers Fuel) based in Alice Springs. This enables deliveries of bulk fuel direct to the farm gate or business from fuel terminals in Adelaide and the refinery in Alice Springs.
SAFF competes with the major oil companies in the bulk delivery market by removing the need for customers to purchase fuel through the wholesale network, effectively providing a direct delivery from the fuel terminal/refinery.
Its agreement with the Farmers Federation of South Australia is to supply Federation members with bulk fuel and services at competitive prices, delivered to the farm. SAFF has done that so well the National Farmers Federation has endorsed SAFF to expand its business model Australia wide.
“SAFF has withstood four years of tough competition and has now secured a sustainable market position and footprint through its retail outlets," t...
