If you are looking for a new opportunity that offers growth and plenty of room for development, bring your passion for agriculture to Fonterra Farm Source, and you're sure to grow.
Four months into his role as sales specialist, Fletcher Morgan is loving the environment at the Farm Source Cambridge store.
Despite growing up on a farm, Fletcher says he joined Farm Source relatively 'green' - while he was familiar with some aspects of farming, he didn't have any in-depth knowledge prior to joining the team.
"That hasn't mattered. A lot of it comes down to on-the-job learning. I've learnt a lot already and still have so far to go but everyone is so accommodating to that. Everyone puts their hands up and are willing to help out if you need it and make time for you."
Fletcher says the great culture that exists at Farm Source really stood out to him from the get-go.
"A key learning during my onboarding was seeing the 'one-team' dynamic that's in place - we operate here as a whole and recognise that we couldn't do what we do without our farmers and the other parts of Farm Source.
"For me, a highlight of joining Farm Source has been the cohesion of the group - it is an awesome team where people want to be at their jobs and see the place do well."
Fletcher has also been impressed with the development opportunities available through the stores and wider Co-op.
"Farm Source is really good at promoting the opportunities that are there for you. If you want to move locations or work towards a different role, these opportunities are right there for you to go and get."
He encourages others considering a role at Farm Source to pursue it.
"If you've got a passion for this industry, even if it's new to you, you are going to be coming into an environment where everyone wants to do well and everyone is striving towards a common goal, so that's an awesome dynamic to part of."
Someone who has fully embraced the opportunities available within the Co-op has been Maarama Foster, who was recently appointed as Assistant Manager at Farm Source Hamilton.
Maa started out as a Service Specialist at the Farm Source Service Centre around eight years ago before becoming the senior member of the Outbound Sales team. Four years ago she took on a 12-week secondment at Farm Source Hamilton to broaden her experience and has been there ever since - previously holding the role of Senior Sales Specialist before recently progressing to Assistant Manager.
"It is a bit different - my new role is focussed a lot more on people management," she says. "That's something I've wanted to gain more experience in, and Farm Source gives me the opportunity to explore that and develop those skills. You are forever learning here."
Maa says it's the variety of her role that she enjoys the most, as well as the customer interaction.
"For me, the biggest thing is our farmers. They're not your normal retail customers, it is more about relationships here. There is a big emphasis for us to have strong relationships with our farmers above what you'd expect in a normal retail store," she says.
"The best part about my role is when you surprise people - when they come in expecting a very transactional kind of experience but they get something totally different."
Sales Specialist Edyn Dent has worked alongside Maa in the Hamilton store for the past two years and agrees that farmer connections are key.
"Creating relationships with my farmers has been a highlight for me - you get to know them on a personal level," she says.
Having come from a dairy background, Edyn says she came into the role with quite a lot of knowledge under her belt but has found there is still plenty for her to learn on the job to keep her challenged. Specialising in animal health, Edyn says she has learnt a lot through a combination of formal training and gleaning knowledge from others in the team.
Farm Source retail employees also get the opportunity to participate in the NZQA-accredited Kura Hokohoko retail training and development programme. Focusing on three key capability areas, Retail, Technical and Leadership, Kura Hokohoko is an internal capability programme designed to build role-specific competencies.
"There is a lot you need to learn in-depth," she says. "You've also got to be good with people - that's a big thing here. It's all about customer service, relationships and knowing your stuff."
Do you think a career at Farm Source could be the field for you? Find out more at nzfarmsource.co.nz/careers.