Gro Group Celebrates 50 Years
Knoxville, TN (April 19, 2024) - This year marks a milestone 50th anniversary for Gro Group, Inc. This elite network of distributors and manufacturers serves the independent lawn and garden market with an array of products and services.
Founded in 1974, Gro Group, Inc. has been a fixture in the lawn and garden industry for half a century. Over the years, the company has grown and evolved, expanding its product lines and partnerships while increasing its reach into new markets. Today, Gro Group encompasses 10 Distributor Members and over 155 Manufacturer Partners serving 32,000 retail locations across the United States, Canada and extending into the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. The Gro Group Distributor Network includes: Arett Sales Corporation, BFG Supply Co., BWI Companies, Inc., The CISCO Companies, Eddi's Wholesale Garden Supplies, A Division of Hydrofarm Canada, Florida Hardware Company, Foster's, Inc., Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc., Halifax Seed Company, Inc. and VG Supply Company, Inc.
The lawn and garden industry comprises a wide range of plants, products and services designed to help homeowners and businesses maintain their outdoor spaces. At the heart of the lawn and garden industry, this independent channel is committed to quality, service, and customer satisfaction. From soils, fertilizers and pest control solutions, to garden tools, plants and pots, the lawn and garden industry plays a vital role in keeping our outdoor spaces healthy and beautiful.
"We are thrilled to be celebrating this important milestone," expressed Gro Group's Chairman of the Board, Jeff Engel. "We owe our success to our Manufacturer Partners, Distributor Members, Corporate Team, and most importantly, our Customers. Their hard work and dedication have been the driving force behind it all. We are grateful for the trust that our industry has placed in us over the years and are committed to continued service to the market with the same level of excellence for many years to come.”
"It's amazing to see how local garden centers, co-op’s, and farm and ranch stores have evolved over the years," said Nancy Taylor, Gro Group's President and CEO. "From carrying mostly soils, mulches and pots in 1974, to adding more gift and decor items, becoming a source of inspiration for their customers and communities. These stores play a crucial role for beginning gardeners to garden enthusiasts and the growing number of people that want to shop local."
Gro Group assists in building relationships with the best distributors and manufacturers, ensuring that they curate the best products for their retailers both large and small. Gro Group offers a green goods program for its Distributor Member's Garden Centers with plant varieties from the top growers across the US market. "We strive to build advantageous programs for our Distributor Members that help their retail partners thrive in a competitive market," said, Bob Siegel, Gro Group's Vice President of Merchandising.
Gro Group will host its annual Kick-Off event June 3 through 7, 2024, in Grapevine, Texas. This is an exciting opportunity for manufacturers within the Gro Group Network to engage with key decision-makers and top leadership from each of the Gro Group Distributor Members. With over 80 manufacturers expected to attend, it is a great platform for launching new products, collaborating on strategic business opportunities and celebrating the achievements of the past as we focus on the future. The participation of founding principal leaders and past chairmen will add to the event's significance as we highlight the journey that Gro Group has taken over the years. "We value our history while also looking towards future growth and success. The people and the sense of community that we have within Gro Group make it more than just a business, we are truly a family of distributors," said, Jim Bunch, past Chairman of the Board and currently a Vice President of Gro Group's Executive Committee.
Gro Group, Inc. is a Lawn and Garden Company that specializes in fostering beneficial partnerships between Distributors and Manufacturers in providing innovative and quality products to consumers. With a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, Gro Group, Inc. has built a reputation for excellence in the Lawn and Garden industry.