Roseville's J.R. Johnson Supply Bought By Ohio Company

Roseville-based J.R. Johnson Supply, a commercial horticultural growing distributor, has been acquired by Ohio-based BFG Supply Co.

Terms of the deal, which was completed last week, were not disclosed. Johnson Supply officials deferred comment to BFG.

BFG, one of the nation's largest commercial horticultural supply companies to professional growers, said it its acqusition of Midwest Horticulture LLC, doing business as  J.R. Johnson Supply, will expand its market presence and add to its customer base.

"We are hiring on all the (11 Johnson) employees and we will be consolidating offices," Tim Gallagher, BFG  vice president of branch operations and technology, told Roseville Patch. BFG has a Minneapolis office with about 19 employees. He said BFG has bought all of Johnson Supply's inventory, customer list and intellectual property.

Gallagher added that J.R. Johnson will keep its name. The Johnson company will continue in its Roseville location at least through next summer, he said.

The Johnson business dates back to 1916 and has been a family-owned company for several decades.

"We both have similar customers in the same market base and share common suppliers," Gallagher said.

In news published by Garden Center magagine, BFG President Rob Glockner, said, “One of the biggest benefits to this acquisition is the positive impact it will have on J.R. Johnson’s customers. The Roseville facility is only 10 minutes from our Minnesota branch, which means ‘will call’ pickups will be right around the corner from where they are today. Add the expanded product lines we offer as well as access to a larger group of industry experts, and J.R. Johnson customers should see the benefits of this acquisition immediately".

Glockner added, “We are going to continue to strengthen our team, resources and relationships so we can offer a broader product line and better service at a more competitive price."

Belden Plastics Inc., a Roseville-based manufacturer of  injection-molded flower pots, is housed in the same building as Johnson Supply. Belden CEO Bradley Johnson said BFG will pick up his company as one of its many vendors. 

"The BFG acqusition will allow access to more in customers in other areas of the country which will benefit our company incrementally," said Johnson, whose grandfather John R. Johnson started J.R. Johnson Supply in 1916.  (Belden Plastics started business in 1972 and today has about 20 employees.)

BFG Supply Co. has served the the greenhouse, nursery and lawn and garden industries in the U.S. for nearly 40 years. It operates 14 service centers covering a 23-state region. BFG said it has grown to become one of the three largest horticultural distributors in the U.S. 

Today, BFG Supply employs 255, has 14 locations and serves more than 8,200 customers.

For more information, visit www.bfgsupply.com.