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Thread: What’s going on at Leader?

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Sunapee, NH
    Posts
    330

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    Fair enough and point taken. I guess I'm getting old and cynical. My post was not meant as a specific indictment on Leader just a general observation of the modernization of the Maple industry. I wish Leader nothing but good will as an American mfr and local northern New England company. We all will get a chance to see all of this play out over time.
    Leader 3x8 Patriot raised flue
    800 taps on vacuum
    100 buckets around the yard
    A lot of help to make it fun

  2. #12
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
    Posts
    6,390

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark-NH View Post
    We all will get a chance to see all of this play out over time.
    That we will.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Randolph, VT
    Posts
    18

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    This may not have come as a surprise to others, but I was disappointed last week when I showed up at Leader in Rutland and learned that they were closing the location permanently. I know things change, but that location had a pretty good run as a maple equipment company- 120ish years since Grimm opened there.
    March 2020- got a Half Pint when the world ended.
    12 taps and 3 gallons of syrup later, caught the bug.
    July 2020- got a used Leader 3x12 raised flue- go big or go home!
    2021- 350 taps on 3/16 gravity. Not much of a year, made maybe 35 gallons.
    2022- 450 taps on 3/16, made about 70 gallons.
    2023- Life got busy again, only 250ish taps so far.

  4. #14
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Chatham NH
    Posts
    1,308

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    Quite Certain Leader is having Financial issues, you don't pull back like they have if you don't have to. If it was just about counting beans and being more profitable they would be changing much slower. They are trying to stay afloat.
    Nate Hutchins
    Nate & Kate's Maple
    2022 1000 taps?
    3x10 Intensofire
    20x36 sugarhouse
    CDL 600gph RO
    A wife and 2 kids.

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    west virginia
    Posts
    966

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    There is always a bottom line, they did this to themselves, example: I know someone who bought 300000 dollars worth of Tubing, Mainline, a 4000 gph RO, the largest Evaporator they sold at the time and everything else to go with it, Vacuum pumps, large tanks etc... Leader unloaded all that equipment and drove away! No Tech support. CDL sends their Tech support to your camp, makes sure that everything is set up and operating properly! And Guess what they will beat Leaders prices everyday and twice on Sunday, Someday I hope to buy a new evaporator, Unless something changes I will only put a CDL Evaporator in my operation, yes I know CDL is not American made, but I drive Toyota's therefore I got over the American made thing in 1980, sorta wish it was different but it is what it is!

    Mark 220 Maple
    1100 taps on low vaccum, 900 on gravity.
    900 plus taps leased and on high vacuum
    35 cfm Indiana Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump
    80% Sugar, 20% Red MAPLES
    http://s247.photobucket.com/albums/g...Maple%20Syrup/

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Leeds County,Ontario,Canada
    Posts
    1,038

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    My wife and I were just commenting yesterday wondering where Bruce Gillilan is now. Leader’s loss would certainly be someone else’s gain. We found Bruce to be very helpful and knowledgeable whether you were buying from him or not. Still gradually implementing changes that he suggested to us in an afternoon walk through
    7th generation maple producer in sugarhouse built in 1892
    2x World Champion Maple Syrup Producer
    1250 taps on cv adapters
    Leader Vortex 3x14 with Max Flue and Revolution Syrup Pan,Enhanced Steam Away
    www.leggettmaplesyrup.com

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Garrettsville,Ohio
    Posts
    621

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    He retired awhile ago. Wants enjoy life with little stress. Cant blame him..........
    Fred Ahrens
    330-206-1606
    Richards Ohio Maple Equipment
    Ohio CDL sales rep
    LaPierre Dealer
    H&M maple fabricator Dealer
    Service Tech/repair for all brands and electronics

    don't take life too serious, nobody gets out alive anyways!

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Lanark, ON
    Posts
    2,387

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce L View Post
    My wife and I were just commenting yesterday wondering where Bruce Gillilan is now. Leader’s loss would certainly be someone else’s gain. We found Bruce to be very helpful and knowledgeable whether you were buying from him or not. Still gradually implementing changes that he suggested to us in an afternoon walk through
    I always enjoyed talking to Bruce - he was very knowledgeable and willing to share.
    4,600 Taps on vacuum
    9,400 gallons storage
    3 tower CDL RO
    3.5'x14' Lapierre Force 5
    Twitter & Instagram: @ennismaple
    www.ennismaple.com

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Northville
    Posts
    357

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    The head of the board of directors at Leader would not give Brad a long term contract plus she did not like the direction of the company that Brad was trying to take them,unfortunately the board was to old school and said that they never had any sort of contract with the old president.Bruce said it was time to retire and enjoy his wife and grandkids,and yes i am not to sure of the new president when one of his first statement was 'i don't know maple but i know how to make money',now to me that seems he is in it for himself and not the maple industry or the smaller producers,which brad and bruce always made you feel you were important,big or small.

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Garrettsville,Ohio
    Posts
    621

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    Jeff was hired as a financial fix. the company is on a downhill slope- self inflicted. cant fault him for sticking to numbers and doing what he was hired to do
    Fred Ahrens
    330-206-1606
    Richards Ohio Maple Equipment
    Ohio CDL sales rep
    LaPierre Dealer
    H&M maple fabricator Dealer
    Service Tech/repair for all brands and electronics

    don't take life too serious, nobody gets out alive anyways!

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