Proud Past, Bright Future
Moving forward often starts by looking back. At SiteOne Landscape Supply, we are the sum of many predecessor companies, united by a commitment to delivering leading products and value-added service. With decades of experience and expertise, we are driven to help our customers and fellow associates succeed—then, now and in the future.
Where Our Story Began – 2001
It all started with a vision to join numerous green industry product lines into a single distribution model with national reach. John Deere Landscapes was born. Founded in 2001 by Deere & Co., John Deere Landscapes supplied turf, irrigation, lighting and other materials for use in landscape construction, growing to more than $1 billion in annual revenue by 2013.
Connecting a Nation – 2001
The rise of John Deere Landscapes was made possible with two major acquisitions by Deere & Co., immediately establishing the company as a national player. The combination of McGinnis Farms, a nursery wholesaler based in Alpharetta, Ga., and Century Rain Aid, a distributor of landscape and irrigation supplies headquartered in Madison Heights, Mich., created a network of more than 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada.
A New Era of Partnership – 2001
Though a version of the program had been around since the early 1980s, the name “Partners Program” was coined in 2001. The program was established to reward loyalty in an industry that, at the time, was defined by a tenuous relationship between the contractor and distributor. Some other key milestones in the Partners Program history included the inaugural Winter Business Meetings, held on houseboats in Kentucky beginning in the mid-1980s, the first gift card redemption option in 2004, and the introduction of Business Solutions in 2006.
Sealing the Deal – 2007
In its most significant acquisition yet, Deere & Co., purchased LESCO, Inc., in 2007. An Ohio-based company, LESCO was a leading supplier of lawn care, landscape, golf course and pest control products, and also a manufacturer of consumables in each of those markets. Deere and LESCO announced a definitive merger agreement in February, and the transaction closed May 7. The deal roughly doubled the number of store locations for John Deere Landscapes with the addition of LESCO's 345 stores, strengthening its presence across the U.S., especially in the eastern seaboard states. To this day, SiteOne Landscape Supply continues to be the primary supplier of LESCO-branded turf care and agronomic products.
Paving Our Own Path – 2013
On Oct. 28, 2013, Clayton Dubilier & Rice LLC announced its agreement to buy a majority stake in John Deere Landscapes, foreseeing a revival of property construction. “The new company should benefit from a recovery in residential and commercial construction activity as well as through the meaningful value-creation opportunities,” said Ken Giuriceo, a partner at CD&R. In addition to capitalizing on the strengthening economy coming out of the Great Recession, the sale paved the way toward greater independence as a standalone company.
Under New Management – 2014
On the heels of its purchase by Clayton Dubilier & Rice, John Deere Landscapes received an influx of new leadership talent, starting with the appointment of Doug Black as CEO. Black came from Atlanta-based Oldcastle, a building materials manufacturer and supplier. “Doug is a proven leader and a world-class business builder,” said Paul Pressler, chairman of John Deere Landscapes and an operating partner at Clayton Dubilier & Rice.
Building a New Name for Ourselves – 2015
The transformation from John Deere Landscapes to SiteOne Landscape Supply became official Oct. 19, 2015. Solidifying the company’s position as the place for green industry professionals, the new name, logo and “Stronger Together” tagline were unveiled at the GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky. “As a market leader, our vision is to make our customers the most successful landscaping professionals in the green industry—and that’s what our new brand represents,” said CEO Doug Black. “By working together with our suppliers and customers we can achieve great things.”
Welcome to the Club – 2015
In order to recognize the efforts being made to build the business and help customers grow at a local level, SiteOne introduced the President’s Club Awards at the December 2015 Area Managers Meeting. Area Managers qualify for this honor based on sales growth percentage, margin growth percentage and incident-free safety performance.
Turning Wall Street Green – 2016
Marking yet another important chapter in its history, SiteOne Landscape Supply went public in 2016, trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SITE. The company priced its initial public offering of 10 million shares of common stock at $21 per share on May 11, according to Reuters, and the shares began trading May 12. The Wall Street Journal reported that the stock rose 27 percent in its first day of trading.
To Be Continued
The SiteOne story is far from over. Building on the successes and learnings of the past, the company is focused on continued growth—for its customers, supplier partners, shareholders and the entire green industry. Every day brings a new opportunity for another company milestone. Follow SiteOne on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and insights from the green industry’s number one destination.