Pinnacle Agriculture Adds Three Businesses To Distribution Network
March 13, 2014 Pinnacle Agriculture Holdings has announced the successful acquisition of three retailer operations: New Era Ag (Monroe, IN), Studer Fertilizer (Roanoke, IL) and Whittington-Sanders (Tunica, MS).
New Era Ag
New Era Ag will operate as part of Pinnacle’s Providence Agriculture brand. Located in Monroe, IN, New Era Ag was founded in 2008 as a full-service agribusiness, providing seed, fertilize, and crop protection chemicals, as well as soil sampling and various lawn and garden products to local growers.
The new Providence location will be managed by New Era Ag’s former co-owner, Todd Mathewson, and will remain located at 1522 S 000 Rd., Monroe, IN. Former co-owners Bill Steinecker and Dan Kaminsky will continue in sales representative roles, and all other employees of New Era will retain their current positions.
“We at New Era Ag are excited about our ongoing growth potential,” said Todd Mathewson. “As always, we will continue the culture and grower-focused approach New Era Ag has come to represent.”
“We are very excited about the recent acquisition. New Era Ag is a highly-regarded business with similar company values and goals of grower success,” said Todd Louiso, Providence Area Operations Manager. “Here at Providence, we are also committed to innovation and delivering new solutions to help our farmers become more profitable. So, we are confident that the community New Era Ag has served so well will experience a seamless transition and continue to receive exceptional service.”
New Era Ag entered the agriculture industry as a crop consultant firm, but sparked by the demand of their customers, evolved into a full-service retailer. New Era Ag now services six counties in Indiana and Ohio and credits their success to three factors: the grace of God; a hard-working, talented team; and always placing customers before anything else.
Studer Fertilizer
Studer Fertilizer will operate as part of Pinnacle’s Providence Agriculture brand. Located in Roanoke, IL, Studer Fertilizer was founded in 1994 as a full-service fertilizer supply operation.
The new Providence location will be managed by former Studer Fertilizer owner, Rick Studer, and will remain located at 1517 County Road 2100E, Roanoke, IL. Curt Knepp will continue in his role of Sales Manager, and all other employees of Studer Fertilizer will retain their current positions.
“Trust is the cornerstone of our life and the success of our business,” said Studer. “I am confident that through Providence, I have found a company with similar values to those upon which Studer Fertilizer built its reputation.”
“Providence is very pleased with the recent acquisition of this highly-respected business, and we look forward to working with Rick and his staff to provide excellent service to area growers,” said Todd Louiso, Providence Area Operations Manager. “It is obvious that Studer Fertilizer embodies the same core values on which Providence was established: grower success, integrity, innovation and technology and dedication to our communities.”
Studer Fertilizer began in 1961 as Martin Fertilizer, a liquid fertilizer suspension plant. Rick Studer was employed by the Martin family from 1975 until his purchase of the company in 1994. Under Rick’s leadership and foresight, Studer Fertilizer enhanced its product line to include conventional dry fertilizer and crop protection chemicals in order to meet the needs of its customers.
Whittington-Sanders
Formerly a joint venture between Whittington Wholesale and Jimmy Sanders Inc., will now fully operate as part of Pinnacle’s Sanders brand. Located in Tunica, MS, Whittington-Sanders was formed in 1995 as a full-service farm supply operation, providing seed, fertilizer and crop protection chemicals, as well as feed and other farm supplies to local growers.
The new Sanders location will be managed by former Whittington-Sanders co-owners, Ken Whittington and James Whittington, and will remain located at 1265 Highway 61 South, Tunica, MS. The current employees of Whittington-Sanders will retain their positions under the new ownership.
“We have had an excellent run as Sanders’ business partner for the past 19 years. We felt it would be advantageous to our long-time customers to roll 100 percent of our business into the Sanders business model in order to provide more complete and efficient service to our growers,” said Whittington-Sanders co-owner, James Whittington. “There will be some subtle improvements in supply chain, inventory and customer account management that will be to their benefit. As far as faces and service, our customers won’t notice any change at all. This should be a great opportunity for our customers and for us.”
“We are extremely pleased with the recent acquisition of our long-time business partner,” said Gill Corban, Area Operations Manager. “This is a unique situation in that Whittington-Sanders already felt like family. We look forward to continuing this relationship under the Sanders brand, and we are confident that area farmers will experience a smooth transition and continue to receive the same timely, hometown service that they have come to rely on.”
The Whittington family has operated in the wholesale and retail industries for almost an entire century. In 1922, Whittington Wholesale began as a commissary offering wholesale groceries and feed to local patrons. The company continued dealing in groceries and agricultural products until 1986, at which time they transitioned completely to agriculture. Whittington Wholesale was a loyal Jimmy Sanders Incorporated customer for many years before forming a joint venture, Whittington-Sanders, in 1995. Since that time, Whittington-Sanders has provided the farmers of Tunica and surrounding areas with quality farm inputs and related agricultural products.
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