For 50 years, Australian-owned Kendon has been a quiet achiever in the agrichemicals industry. Many of the company's products have been household names across two generations and the Kendon name is similarly well known throughout horticulture.
Kendon has a suite of products that spans virtually all product classes; insecticides, fungicides, wetters, plant hormones, disinfectants, fertilisers and herbicides. They include the original Triforine fungicide and the natural insecticide Pyrethrum.
Leading the Kendon team today is Chris Story, appointed as general manager in August 1997.
"Marketing is an area that has not received a lot of attention in the past.
Accordingly, we set about designing 'The Kendon Look'."
Designing corporate labelling and packaging was the first task at hand.
A distinctive red and blue label design was the result and the company's products can now be identified, even at considerable distance.
And while a new corporate image might be the order of the day, the principals upon which Kendon was founded in the 1940s are here to remain.
"Kendon's success to date has been no accident. It is success that is underpinned by a total commitment to customers, research and development, product integrity and safety," Mr Story said.
Chris Story - General Manager
Kendon's commitment to safety was formalised in 1983 when it became a founding member of AgSafe, the industry regulatory body charged with upholding safe practices in the storage and use of agrichemicals.
In terms of business relationships, Kendon has been loyal to distributors.
Marketing efforts are now set to expand as Kendon takes its new look to the marketplace.
"Our current efforts are serving to more clearly link the products. One product now supports another as people begin to identify the distinctive Kendon label with the quality and reliability they have been experiencing for years."
Australia
