Proven.
Who we are…
The background
Tennessee Farmers Cooperative (TFC) and Purina Animal Nutrition, a division of Land O’ Lakes are co-owners of ProTrition, a joint venture company supplying feed, premixes, minerals, pet foods, and other nutritional products. ProTrition brings together the feed manufacturing resources and purchasing, formulation, support, sales, and service teams from the legacy companies to better serve animal owners within ProTrition’s geography. The company is headquartered in La Vergne, Tenn.
The company is governed by a six-member board of directors with equal representation from TFC and Purina Animal Nutrition.
ProTrition is the third and final piece of the TFC Board’s plan to pursue strategic alliances through the formation of joint venture companies. Faithway Alliance was established Aug. 1, 2020 to provide customers with lawn and garden, farm hardware, fencing, automotive, horticulture, and home goods products. GreenPoint AG was established Sept. 1, 2020, and encompasses $1 billion in wholesale and retail sales, making it among the top seven largest agronomy distribution companies in the nation.
National presence
ProTrition features brands and products that animal owners throughout the trade area will immediately recognize: Purina, Co-op, Cumberland Mills and Triple Crown.
These feeds are sold exclusively by ProTrition retail partners in the trade area. Co-op branded products will be sold only at Co-ops. These stores have the option of adding Cumberland Mills Feed products if they do not currently offer that line. The Purina brand is also available to approved dealers. Current independent dealers have access to the Purina brand and Cumberland Mills Feed products.
Our team members
A single ProTrition sales team cross trained across all product lines and categories are positioned strategically in the trade area, and these employees will work objectively with each retail location to help identify the right mix of products for each store. They will also be available to consult with customers as needed.
Efficiencies and benefits will be gained in a number of areas through this venture, including business operations, environmental health and safety, training, ingredient purchasing, marketing, employee talent, research, and manufacturing, among others.
Both legacy companies bring a great depth of nutritional expertise to ProTrition. Products continue to utilize research from the Purina Animal Nutrition Facility in Gray Summit, Mo., and from Cooperative Research Farms (CRF), an international partnership of prominent feed manufacturers of which TFC has been a member for more than 55 years. Current nutritionists from the legacy companies continue to work on behalf of ProTrition.
Our facilities
ProTrition operates four feed manufacturing facilities located in Tennessee: the three mills previously operated by TFC at Jackson, La Vergne, and Rockford, and Purina’s mill in Nashville. These facilities are leased from the legacy companies. The Nashville mill is devoted to the production of non-ionophore feeds to add an additional level of safety for ionophore sensitive species. Additions at all mills will allow for growth and value to our customers.
Beginning date
ProTrition began operation on Aug. 1, 2021.