2005 AGM - Factory Report
The last twelve months at the Fleetwood factory has been a year of contrasts. The Swedish company Kabe Husvagnar, which has owner Fleetwood Caravans since 1987, sold their entire interest to Adria Mobil, a company that all of you will know, operating out of Novo Mesto in Slovenia. Fleetwood is now a wholly owned subsidiary company of Adria Mobil, and operating under the name of Adria Concessionaires the Adria core product is brought into the UK and distributed throughout a rapidly increasing chain of Adria dealerships. Adria’s influence over all aspects of Fleetwood has steadily grown over the last six months: they are wholly committed to the Fleetwood brand and reorganisation has already taken place in the area of the production line and improvement of the overall quality of the caravans which we make at Long Melford. Further changes are now being made in the area of administration, stores and the logistical function of the company and it is expected that by the start of the 2006 model on 1st September Fleetwood will be able to complete strongly against our co-manufacturers in the UK and Europe.
As I have said, it has been a year of contrasts and what is in place now with Fleetwood’s new owners represent a considerable change from the uncertain quality, unreliable delivery dates and the lack of dealer and customer confidence all of which we experiences between April and July last year. Fleetwood are only too painfully aware that members of the Club have been caught up in some of these difficulties and particularly over the last two years with the Club has felt in many areas it has not received the support from the factory from the factory to which it was entitled. In addition, your own internal problems have in no way helped the overall situation.
Your past year’s Chairman has done much to rebuild the Club’s relationship with the factory over the past twelve months and Fleetwood would like to place on record our appreciation for all his hard work and personal commitment to ensure this. The highlight of his tenure of office was the Chairman’s Dinner in March when several members of the factory attended including the new Group Managing Director, Matjaz Korosec and his wife. The factory had a great time and I hope that those of you that come to that evening shared our view that this was an excellent way to restore a relationship to which Fleetwood are wholly committed.
Thank you for all your support in what has been a most difficult year for all of us and we would like to wish your new Chairman, his committee and Club members a successful next twelve months.
