Toro turf machinery distributor Lely (UK) Limited has announced that it has acquired the turfcare equipment dealership, John Shaw (Machinery) Limited. The move follows a strategic decision by both companies that the future of their businesses and customers’ interests are best served by merging JSM with Lely’s Turf Division, based at St Neots in Cambridgeshire.

JSM was founded in 1985 specifically to represent the Toro Commercial brand and both companies have enjoyed an unbroken, close working relationship over 29 years, with Lely-Toro accounting for the large majority of JSM’s turfcare machinery business operations. This partnership has been a big success in developing new customer relationships and retaining important Toro key accounts in JSM’s trading area across the south east of England.

Lely sees this region as important for future growth of sales of its Toro and other turf products, and JSM’s head office in Sheffield Park, East Sussex, will continue as an important regional base for the merged business. The distributor says that it has a high regard for JSM’s past performance, and that everyone at JSM will be important to continuing its future success. This ensures security, both of employment for JSM’s staff and the location, and continuity for customers. 

In due course, Lely will work to integrate Sheffield Park into it own business systems.  Meanwhile, the company says it will be ‘business as usual’ and sees a positive future ahead with the enhanced support and resources created by bringing the two businesses together.

Added to strengthening its own position and that of the Toro brand in the south east, Lely says this development will also strengthen its own senior management team at St Neots and play a significant role in succession planning.

Therefore JSM managing director David Cole will become senior manager of the Lely turfcare business, basing himself at St Neots and reporting to managing director Graham Dale.  He will succeed Peter Mansfield, who in addition to supporting David Cole will take on a new business development role overseeing and enhancing Lely’s national network of dealers and service centres.