GROW Independent Ag Retail Network Partnering With U.S. Crop Input Supplier

A network of independent crop input retailers in Western Canada has decided to join forces with a much larger American retail-owned wholesale supplier of crop inputs.

The GROW Community of Independents, which includes 17 dealers and more than 75 retail locations in Western Canada (see list below), is partnering with United Suppliers Inc. As of September 1st, GROW will become United Suppliers Canada Inc., Crop Protection and Seed Business Unit.

“We’re very excited about it. The two organizations have strengths that complement each other, and together we will have a lot of services and things we can provide independent dealers in Western Canada to make them more competitive and capable of bringing value to their farm customers,” explains GROW general manager Greg McDonald in the interview below.

Founded in 1963, United Suppliers Inc. is headquartered in Iowa and is now comprised of over 600 independent ag retailers with almost 2,800 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

So what will the change mean for customers of retailers affiliated with GROW? McDonald says their members will have greater access to new products and agronomic resources.

“The products that our Canadian owners are wanting to recommend to their farm customers will continue, as long as they’re important to their customers, they’re important to independent dealers,” he says. “But I also to think it’s important to make sure you have access to other products and innovations as well that are coming around fungicides, biologicals, a lot more seed technology, as well. What this really signals isn’t a change, but an opportunity to bring other products to United Supplier owners in Western Canada.”

McDonald will lead United Suppliers Canada Inc.’s crop protection and seed business, reporting to Brad Oelmann, CEO of United Suppliers. United Suppliers Canada will have two business units: crop protection and seed, which will be based in Saskatoon, and a crop nutrients unit, based in Regina. All GROW’s office staff have joined United Suppliers Canada.

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