| Contact: | Communications Department 804 281-1618 |
July 15, 2013 For Immediate Release |
Southern States Cooperative® Announces Store Closings to Support New Growth Strategy
- Southern States closing eight retail locations in Georgia
- Growth strategy allows focus on high potential agricultural markets
Richmond, VA, July 15, 2013 — Southern States Cooperative today announced the closing of seven retail locations in northern Georgia, including the Calhoun, Carrollton, Griffin, Madison, Gainesville, Washington and Winder locations. Following the store closings, to be completed by late-July, Southern States products will be available in the region through wholesale distribution and an expanding network of independent dealers.
“We’ve launched a significant new growth strategy that will focus on high potential agricultural markets for our future and the future of farmers who own Southern States,” said Tom Scribner, Southern States president and CEO. “Unfortunately, that strategy requires closing a small number of outlets in markets that are not as well positioned for future growth.”
The local stores are among a small number of locations closing across the Cooperative’s 17-state region, representing less than 2 percent of total retail reach.
“We’re launching a new Agronomy Business Unit to take care of farmers from sourcing the products to application in the field,” said Scribner. “We believe an intense focus on the producer will allow us to serve our customers better, and reallocating capital from closed stores will help fulfill that promise. Southern States has been helping farmers feed the world for 90 years – and we plan on being a major part of this global effort far into the future.”
Scribner adds that despite store closings, Southern States will continue to support local farmers through direct delivery and wholesale distribution. Also, many customers of Southern States feed and other products will now be able to buy them through independently-owned dealerships.
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Founded in 1923, Southern States is a farm supply and service cooperative that has approximately 200,000 members. One of the nation’s largest cooperatives, Southern States provides a wide range of farm inputs, including fertilizer, seed, feed, livestock and pet feed, as well as other items for the farm and home. The Cooperative serves its members and non-member customers through 1200 retail outlets in 17 states.
For more information about Southern States, visit www.southernstates.com/pr, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.
Media Inquiries: Steve Patterson, Vice President Marketing and Communications
804-281-1695 or [email protected]
