50 YEARS OF AGRESOURCE
At AgResource, our mission is clear: to see our dealers succeed. Independent dealers have been the industry leaders, enabling crop production for 50 years. AgResource has led the way, being the first distributor to support dealers with inventory protection, third party financing, sales training, business development solutions, and a secure dealer portal. AgResource manages a low cost, efficient business keeping the wholesale channel competitive and preferred, and we are now focused on bioscience without distraction.
When we began as a company in 1974, we had five territory managers servicing 100 independent dealers in Western Canada. Our sales team grew to seven territory managers by 1986, and we expanded our dealers to Eastern Canada with one territory manager based in Ontario.
In 1988, AgResource became a separate wholesale division with a wholesale lead and separate profit and loss. The territory managers transitioned into separate offices and eventually began to work from home. This was part of the structural divide separating AgResource as a standalone division. In 2002, the name AgResource, officially launched to formalize what had happened 14 years previously, that AgResoure has freedom to operate supporting independent dealers.
For 15 years, AgResource was strictly a crop protection business, before entering the fertilizer business selling phosphate in 1988 and nitrogen in 1992. The phosphate and potash business evolved to become Mosaic, and they became our supplier of record until 2008. After 20 years of selling fertilizer, AgResource then refocused and became a bioscience only business selling crop protection products and seed.
In order to improve our value as a wholesale distributor, AgResource established a strong relationship with CWS in the 90s and eventually moved all central warehousing and shipping to CWS in the West. In the East, AgResource expanded to two territory managers in 2014 and has a 35-year relationship with Future Transfer.
AgResource now has 15 territory managers spread across Canada and we’re proud to be doing business in all the major provinces. As we’ve grown to now serve over 250 independent dealers, our main purpose remains the same, to simply help our dealers succeed.
For the past 20 years, AgResource has actively invested in independent dealers through business coaching, training, and agronomy with dedicated services from our marketing and communications agency, Impact Group.
In addition to high performance distribution services and solutions, we aim to be easy to do business with. In 2016, AgResource launched a private portal website to provide dealers with easy access to their business documents, orders, and shipping notices. This secure dealer portal has enhanced convenience and improved planning with a forecasting tool.
Sales have grown 15 times since 1980, and more than doubled since 2020. This remarkable growth is made possible by the team behind the scenes including the customer service desk, logistics team, product line and credit department.
When it comes to delivering products, AgResource leaves no stone unturned. In addition to the high service standard of CWS delivering the highest volume to the market, we deploy a fleet of cube vans during the spring season, ensuring swift and efficient delivery to our valued customers.
Throughout our journey, AgResource has been a beacon of progress. We have embraced industry-leading practices such as next-day delivery, agronomic training, and business solutions. These initiatives have not only set us apart, but have propelled us forward.
As we reflect on 50 years, we maintain our unwavering commitment to serve our dealers, as we understand it’s crucial to the long-term success of their business and our own. We are committed to listening, understanding, and investing in this business, and we believe in the power of collaboration to achieve high results. .
Guided by our core values of respect, integrity, and commitment, we strive to live up to these values even when faced with challenges, and we remain committed to serving our independent dealers across Canada in crop protection products and seed.
AgResource was thrilled to host our 50th anniversary event in July, where over 300 independent dealers, manufacturers, industry leaders, and AgResource staff came together to celebrate the company’s accomplishments. It was a special evening of networking, reminiscing, and looking forward to the next 50 years of success.
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