The Great Bend Co-op in Great Bend, Kan., and The Cooperative Grain and Supply Company in Bazine, Kan., on March 1 announced the formation of the Cooperative Supply and Service Alliance (CSSA), a business that the two co-ops said will allow them to consolidate supply purchases and optimize services while maintaining the local brands, ownership, and control of each cooperative.
The two co-ops said the initial focus for CSSA will include the aggregation of agronomy crop protection and seed purchase volumes, with Great Bend Co-op acting as the administrative cooperative. Other “aligned initiatives” are also planned in the future, the companies said.
“We are excited to form this new agreement that will benefit the member owners of Great Bend Co-op and The Cooperative Grain and Supply Company,” said Chris Wagner, CEO of Great Bend. “Great Bend Co-op continues to grow at a rapid pace, and this framework will only add to our ability to continue that growth and pass on the rewards that this creates to our members and the members of The Cooperative Grain and Supply Company.”
Founded in 1959, Great Bend offers grain, seed, agronomy, energy, precision ag, farm supply, and feed products and services from 11 Kansas locations at Great Bend, Albert, Hoisington, Dorrance, Dundee, Ellinwood, Pawnee Rock, Radium, Russell, Seward, and Susank. The Cooperative Grain and Supply Company was established in 1929 and offers grain, agronomy, HyG4 soil sampling, fuel and lubricants, and light auto repair products and services from its single location in Bazine in west-central Kansas.
“We each have successful and strong local brands,” said Michael Kempke, General Manager of The Cooperative Grain and Supply Company. “While we could have explored a merger or LLC arrangement, we feel that we can enhance both cooperative supply chains while capturing the benefit of economy of scale through a working alliance like CSSA. It is a new model that requires trust and willingness to collaborate.”