A record number of RapidClean members came together in Adelaide for the 23rd annual RapidClean conference, where general manager Bruce Lees outlined the company’s five-year plan.

Off the back of a successful 12 months, the Rapid Group again achieved success this year, with 18.8 per cent growth during the 2016/17 financial year. This year also saw the Rapid Group expand its footprint across the ditch – securing seven members throughout New Zealand.

Lees unveiled the group’s five-year strategy at the four-day event, with the Group’s main goal to more than double turnover and purchases from preferred suppliers by 2022.

“Over the past year, the board and our team have been working on a plan for the next five years to ensure the Group has direction,” Lees said.

“There is some scope to add more members but we are aiming to more than double the turnover of the Group over the next five years and the majority of our future growth will be achieved through our members’ businesses growing.”

Lees credited the work of its board members for the co-operative’s success which has seen membership double and turnover triple over the past seven years.

Expansion

This year Rapid Group added two new members in Darwin and Hervey Bay, taking its total network to more than 50 stores across the country.

Lees said the group has nearly reached its goal of total members, with a few regional towns and capital cities earmarked for further growth. However, the Group’s core focus is centred on its New Zealand expansion.

There are now seven members in New Zealand – more than double its initial target set for 2017. Members include Otago Cleaning Supplies, Christchurch Cleaning Supplies, Specialist Cleaning Supplies, VJ Distributors, Counties Cleaning Supplies, Commercial Cleaning Repair and Waikato Cleaning Supplies.

“Our main area of interest with regard to adding members is now New Zealand and we are off to a great start with our first member signing in June and having just added our seventh member.”

Board changes

New board members were also announced at the conference by outgoing chairman and owner of RapidClean Armadale, Greg Wild.

New board members include Rodney Macnamara, Abcoe Penrith; Graeme McGee, Concept Cleaning Supplies; David Thyne, RapidClean Tasmania and Jaap Steeghs, JNL Toowoomba.

“I’m sure these newly elected board members will join with the sitting board members Stephen Makins and Graeme Gardener to form a cohesive board acting in the best interest of the Rapid Group and its members,” Wild said.

“Together we will continue the work, setting the foundations of the Group by the members of the previous board and those who came before us.”

Read the full article in the January/February issue of INCLEAN