Indiana-based agricultural cooperatives Ceres Solutions and Co-Alliance closed on their expected purchase of the assets of a CHS-owned agricultural retail businesses based in Hamilton, Mich., on Sept. 16, 2020. The pending deal had been announced in June (GM June 12, p. 1). Both cooperatives already had a strong presence in Michigan.
“Together, accessing the assets and the talents of the CHS Hamilton employees, we are able to expand our retail operations and serve farmers throughout Michigan,” said Jeff Troike, CEO of Ceres Solutions. “With Endeavor, we add capabilities and scale to drive growth for our businesses, and for the benefit of member-farmers and local communities,” added Kevin Still, CEO of Co-Alliance.
The new joint venture is called Endeavor Ag & Energy LLP. It includes CHS assets in Hamilton, Holland, Traverse City, and Wayland. The new company will deliver agronomy products and services, propane, grain marketing, and animal nutrition products to customers in Allegan, Ottawa, Grand Traverse, and surrounding counties.
As a jv between cooperatives, local eligible farmers will be invited to join as shareholding members. Approved applicants will become members in both Ceres Solutions and a parent co-op of Co-Alliance. As a competitive business, Endeavor will also serve non-member customers.
Endeavor will have almost 100 employees. A new website and Facebook connections will be announced soon. Employee cell and location telephone numbers remain unchanged.
Headquartered in Crawfordsville, Ind., Ceres Solutions is a 100 percent farmer-owned co-op serving customers across 37 counties in Indiana and Michigan. The company has 650 employees and operates agronomy, fuel, propane, and feed divisions from more than 50 locations.
Co-Alliance LLP is a member-owned supply and marketing operation serving customers in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, with headquarters in Avon, Ind. The company was formally established in 2002 through the merger of five local cooperatives, and today operates agronomy, propane, fuels, grain, seed, hog production, and feed businesses from more than 50 locations.