New TFC units go to members, ADI Agronomy

LaVergne, Tenn.-Tennessee Farmers Cooperative plans to divide the 11 units it will be acquiring from Agriliance LLC (GM Aug. 10, p. 13) between member cooperatives and a TFC subsidiary, ADI Agronomy, which is a network of farm supply stores and fertilizer terminals in the bootheel of Missouri. Those going to ADI include assets and inventories being purchased in Hardinsburg and Morganfield, Ky., Blytheville and Paragould, Ark., and Portageville and Sikeston, Mo. TFC says the acquisition will add some $33 million in sales volume to ADI. ADI, which TFC collectively assembled from 1995-1997, had sales last year of $25 million. “This move will bring growth to TFC, which is an important part of the success strategy developed by our board of directors,” says Bart Kisle, TFC CEO. “With these Agriliance locations, we will have additional outlets to expand our business, resulting in increased sales and profitability for our cooperative system.” Six TFC members in Tennessee – Mid-South, Gibson, Obion, Weakley, Robertson Cheatham, and Lawrence – will acquire the Agriliance units in Tennessee, either operating them as part of an existing cooperative or as an independent business. Agriliance will continue to operate the units until the deal closes, which is expected to be Aug. 31.