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New Stockdale’s stores to open in West Tennessee
Mid-South Farmers Cooperative to focus on agronomy, shift farm and home business to new retail outlets
Several new “Stockdale’s: America’s Rural Outfitter” stores are planned for West Tennessee in the territory served by Mid-South Farmers Cooperative, which is shifting its business focus to serving the agronomy market exclusively.
Under an agreement finalized in late June, Stockdale’s, a subsidiary of Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, is working with Mid-South Farmers Co-op to establish these new retail stores, which will offer products and services for livestock, equine, farm, and home customers. Mid-South will transition its stores in Crockett, Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Madison, and McNairy counties along with three locations in Mississippi into crops centers to provide seed, plant nutrients, and crop protection products along with related services.
Officials are targeting spring 2013 to have these changes implemented and the Stockdale’s stores open.
“At Mid-South Farmers Co-op, our expertise is mainly in agronomy, and we are not as well-equipped to support the farm, home, and livestock market,” says Terry Kelley, Mid-South Farmers Co-op general manager, who adds that Mid-South will continue to offer automotive services for farm and passenger vehicles along with fuel. “This agreement with Stockdale’s allows us to create a business model that will be the best of both worlds. Mid-South can focus on crop production — it’s what we do best — while Stockdale’s can provide the other products and services that our customers have come to expect and a whole lot more.”
Up to four Stockdale’s stores will be opened in Mid-South’s trade area, with specific towns and locations to be determined. Plans are to lease second-generation facilities. All of the new stores will be designed around Stockdale’s smaller format, similar in size to its current Covington location, which opened in the facility formerly occupied by Tipton Farmers Co-op before its move to a crops-focused business in 2007. Larger Stockdale’s stores are located in Hixson and Bowling Green, Ky.
For customers who have cattle, horses, pets, or other livestock, all of the feed, equipment, and animal health items now found at Co-op will be available at Stockdale’s — along with a much wider selection of products and supplies for animals. Stockdale’s large, diverse product mix also includes clothing, footwear, tools, outdoor furniture, lawn and garden items, toys, gifts, accessories, home décor, and much more.
“Our goal is to maintain and improve services and offerings to Co-op customers in this area while providing an extensive lineup of rural lifestyle products that may not have been available before,” says Bart Krisle, TFC chief executive officer, adding that many of Mid-South’s employees will likely become part of the Stockdale’s staff to provide continuity of service for the Co-op’s current customers.
Additional details will be announced for the Stockdale’s locations as plans are finalized. In the meantime, to learn more about Stockdale’s, visit www.stockdales.com.
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