An Industry Legend Comes Of Age

This month the legendary Brinicombe Mineral Clinic celebrates its twenty first birthday. Started by Denis Brinicombe in 1986 the Mineral Clinic uses topical questions raised by farmers to offer seasonal suggestions and recommendations, as well as advice, on the efficient use of the various products manufactured by the Group in their Crediton, Devon factory.

Twenty-one years ago Denis was receiving such a large volume of enquiries about the different products he manufactured and questions on how they worked, he realised that there was a need for an information centre for all stock farmers.

"I started the company in 1973 and by 1986 I had become well established and had so many questions coming in to me from farmers that I found it very difficult to answer them all on an individual basis, as I had done in the past. One day, when I was thinking about nothing in particular, the idea of what was to become the Mineral Clinic came to me. It would act as an advice centre as well as providing information about my products", said Denis. "Since I started it we have hardly missed a week when we didn't publish and we still get farmers ringing in with questions, which we use. I never like to miss an opportunity and this has proved to be one of my better decisions!" he added.

The first title was 'Questions and Answers' but it changed in 1992 to 'The Mineral Clinic', which is still a regular feature in the farming press. As a result of the number of questions asked of him Denis has also successfully developed and launched new products to the market. Many of the products are unique in their composition and contain exclusive ingredients developed in and tested by the company. In recent years the Fly Tub, containing Repel-EX™ and Bug A Tub, containing Para-Guard™ have both been produced as a result of customer's enquiries.