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Atkins - Our Story
John Atkins, a harness maker from Dunmanway, opens a seed merchants at 49 South Mall. Shortly after, he is joined by Joseph Wolfe, a farmer’s son from Ballydehob. The two men formalise a 50/50 partnership in 1882.
The business grows quickly expanding into hardware and machinery. Additional premises on the South Mall and Patrick’s Quay are added as well as stores in Dingle and Clonakilty.
Thomas McKenzie & Sons, a similar business on Camden Quay, is acquired and run separately under the McKenzies name. Joseph manages Atkins; John oversees McKenzies.
The business is formally registered as John Atkins & Co. Ltd., company number 2827.
Inevitably the business retrenches during WWI, the War of Independence, and the Civil War. The McKenzies’ premises is destroyed in ‘The Burning of Cork’. Stock is scaled back to protect liquidity in case of sudden closure.
The second generation takes charge: Sam Wolfe from Joseph in 1929; Bertie and Ashley Atkins from John. Sam manages Atkins; the Atkins brothers manage McKenzies. The business is managed conservatively under their stewardship.
The Economic War and WWII bring hardship again. Irish farm incomes fall sharply and many businesses close. Atkins contracts but survives.
Harry Wolfe becomes Managing Director in 1953. He drives rapid growth, shifting sourcing from the industry’s traditional UK sources to European suppliers including Bredal, Bogballe, JF and Claas.
Machinery operations move from Patrick’s Quay and a yard on Monaghan Road to Carrigrohane Road, a bold move at the time. An Atkins Home & Garden store is opened on Winthrop Street, replacing 54 South Mall.
The David Brown tractor franchise is awarded to Atkins who also part company with Claas the following year.
Ireland joins the EEC. Farming thrives. Atkins completes its footprint in Co. Cork with new outlets in Bandon, Fermoy and Midleton, while urbanisation drives the growth of McKenzies' now garden machinery focused portfolio.
Peter Wolfe succeeds Harry as MD in 1982. Mark Atkins, son of Leslie, and Binny Atkins, daughter of Robin, join McKenzies. By this stage the McKenzies operation is running losses and is being subsided by Atkins which continues to grow and attract new franchises.
A severe recession hits Irish farming. Three competitors in Cork close in 1982 alone. The McKenzies fertiliser business is closed.
The Kubota and the Briggs & Stratton franchises are awarded to McKenzies, fallout from a competitor going into liquidation.
Following shareholder disputes, Peter Wolfe buys out the company. As part of the settlement the McKenzies’ Camden Quay and Atkins Clonakilty sites are divested. Operations continue at Carrigrohane Road as ‘Atkins McKenzies’ for some years before reverting to Atkins.
The first iteration of the company’s website goes live, later becoming a key revenue stream and efficiency driver.
Shakeup in the tractor networks following acquisitions by Claas and New Holland. The Fendt franchise is acquired by Atkins while Case moves on.
Mark Wolfe succeeds Peter as Managing Director in 2007. After recovery from the financial crash of 2008 the last decade has been one of expansion and investment.
The front building at Carrigrohane Road, home to Atkins Gardenworld, is rebuilt following the 2009 Cork flood.
The garden machinery parts distribution business outgrows Carrigrohane Road and moves to a standalone facility in Ballycurreen.
A new farm machinery branch opens in Birr, Co. Offaly. It takes on the Fendt franchise for the Midlands and serves as a base for the machinery wholesale business.
The JCB Agriculture franchise is awarded. Atkins Bandon is rebuilt as a modern, full-service farm and garden machinery dealership.
Atkins - Our Story
John Atkins, a harness maker from Dunmanway, opens a seed merchants at 49 South Mall. Shortly after, he is joined by Joseph Wolfe, a farmer’s son from Ballydehob. The two men formalise a 50/50 partnership in 1882.
The business grows quickly expanding into hardware and machinery. Additional premises on the South Mall and Patrick’s Quay are added as well as stores in Dingle and Clonakilty.
Thomas McKenzie & Sons, a similar business on Camden Quay, is acquired and run separately under the McKenzies name. Joseph manages Atkins; John oversees McKenzies.
The business is formally registered as John Atkins & Co. Ltd., company number 2827.
Inevitably the business retrenches during WWI, the War of Independence, and the Civil War. The McKenzies’ premises is destroyed in ‘The Burning of Cork’. Stock is scaled back to protect liquidity in case of sudden closure.
The second generation takes charge: Sam Wolfe from Joseph in 1929; Bertie and Ashley Atkins from John. Sam manages Atkins; the Atkins brothers manage McKenzies. The business is managed conservatively under their stewardship.
The Economic War and WWII bring hardship again. Irish farm incomes fall sharply and many businesses close. Atkins contracts but survives.
Harry Wolfe becomes Managing Director in 1953. He drives rapid growth, shifting sourcing from the industry’s traditional UK sources to European suppliers including Bredal, Bogballe, JF and Claas.
Machinery operations move from Patrick’s Quay and a yard on Monaghan Road to Carrigrohane Road, a bold move at the time. An Atkins Home & Garden store is opened on Winthrop Street, replacing 54 South Mall.
The David Brown tractor franchise is awarded to Atkins who also part company with Claas the following year.
Ireland joins the EEC. Farming thrives. Atkins completes its footprint in Co. Cork with new outlets in Bandon, Fermoy and Midleton, while urbanisation drives the growth of McKenzies' now garden machinery focused portfolio.
Peter Wolfe succeeds Harry as MD in 1982. Mark Atkins, son of Leslie, and Binny Atkins, daughter of Robin, join McKenzies. By this stage the McKenzies operation is running losses and is being subsided by Atkins which continues to grow and attract new franchises.
A severe recession hits Irish farming. Three competitors in Cork close in 1982 alone. The McKenzies fertiliser business is closed.
The Kubota and the Briggs & Stratton franchises are awarded to McKenzies, fallout from a competitor going into liquidation.
Following shareholder disputes, Peter Wolfe buys out the company. As part of the settlement the McKenzies’ Camden Quay and Atkins Clonakilty sites are divested. Operations continue at Carrigrohane Road as ‘Atkins McKenzies’ for some years before reverting to Atkins.
The first iteration of the company’s website goes live, later becoming a key revenue stream and efficiency driver.
Shakeup in the tractor networks following acquisitions by Claas and New Holland. The Fendt franchise is acquired by Atkins while Case moves on.
Mark Wolfe succeeds Peter as Managing Director in 2007. After recovery from the financial crash of 2008 the last decade has been one of expansion and investment.
The front building at Carrigrohane Road, home to Atkins Gardenworld, is rebuilt following the 2009 Cork flood.
The garden machinery parts distribution business outgrows Carrigrohane Road and moves to a standalone facility in Ballycurreen.
A new farm machinery branch opens in Birr, Co. Offaly. It takes on the Fendt franchise for the Midlands and serves as a base for the machinery wholesale business.
The JCB Agriculture franchise is awarded. Atkins Bandon is rebuilt as a modern, full-service farm and garden machinery dealership.