Derek Balmer, who established Trilanco with wife Sylvia, sadly passed away on Wednesday, June 17, aged 85.

The Balmers established Trilanco, first known as Triam Lancashire, in 1979 specialising in agricultural products. Throughout the 1980s, Derek steered the business to continue its growth. He recognised the importance of good, technical advice and excellent customer service building the business on those principles.

In the 1990s, as the business grew, demand for equine and pet products saw Trilanco expand its portfolio. This decade also saw the premises slowly increase its size to accommodate the growing customer database and stock list expansion.

In the late 1990s, Derek took a step back from the day to day running of the business and handed over the reins to his son, Martin, although he was always on hand and a familiar face at the office.

Derek and Sylvia regularly contributed to the Salvation Army – a charity close to their hearts. Derek was a founder member of th British Distributors of Animal Medicines (BDAM) and the Animal Health Trade Association Group (AHTAG), which is now known as AHDA.

Trilanco will always be known as a family business, a family of three generations, employing over 120 employees including office, warehouse staff and area sales managers/national accounts managers out on the road.

Derek’s ethos was old-fashioned values of courtesy and service which are still the values upheld by the company today.