Blooming success for Queensland nursery

Thanks to equipment from Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA), a thriving Far North Queensland horticultural business has enhanced its operational efficiency, helping it prepare for future growth.

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Branches Nursery principal, Oscar Michel, obviously loves his Toyota equipment.

He took delivery of his third Toyota Huski 4SDK4 Skid Steer Loader last year from TMHA, which has also supplied upgraded forklifts for his two sites.

Oscar is one of many Toyota customers who have benefitted from TMHA opening a dedicated branch in Cairns in 2023 in response to expanding opportunities in the region.

"Previously we'd been relying on remote service from Townsville 350km away," Oscar said.

"Now we not only have access to local service, but we also have a business manager who understands our requirements."

Branches Nursery maintains an inventory of 50,000 plants across 150 species, growing at two sites in Cairns and Port Douglas.

Half of its stock is sold outside the region, largely in Brisbane and on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, but also further north fulfilling government contracts in areas like Thursday Island.

The other 50 per cent is sold locally to landscapers who are working hard to keep up with demand in a region whose population has doubled from 80,000, when Oscar started his business in the 1990s, to more than 170,000.