Speedling
Speedling is a privately held, Florida-founded agricultural company that grows vegetable and ornamental plant transplants using its proprietary inverted pyramid cell tray technology, operating nine production facilities across the US for commercial farmers, ornamental growers, and seafood shippers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersRuskin, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Speedling does
Speedling Incorporated is a privately held agricultural company founded in 1968 in Sun City, Florida, that produces plant transplants (plugs) and related horticultural products for commercial agriculture and ornamental growers. The company's operations are organized into three divisions: Vegetable Transplants (broccoli, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, melons, tobacco, and other crops, sold directly to commercial farmers through dedicated regional sales representatives), Ornamental Transplants (Begonias, Snapdragon, Petunias, Vinca, Gerbera, and the proprietary Fast Finish Geranium line, distributed through an exclusive nine-broker network and via direct contract accounts for larger producers), and EPS and Horticultural Products (expanded polystyrene fish boxes, planter trays, gel/heat packs, tray coatings, and Peatlite growing mix, sold direct to customers nationwide and shipped internationally).
The company's core technology is the inverted pyramid cell planter flat, invented at founding in 1968, which uses an open-bottom cell design to air-prune the taproot and produce vigorous secondary roots with higher transplant survivability. Production operations span nine facilities in Florida (Sun City, Bushnell), Georgia (Blairsville), Texas (Alamo), and California (Nipomo, Coalinga, Watsonville, San Juan Bautista), totaling more than 3.4 million square feet of greenhouse and growing space. Two facilities use sub-irrigation systems (Bushnell circulates 4,000,000 gallons beneath trays), and the Blairsville site runs ten computer-controlled climate zones using Argus controllers. Certified organic production runs at the San Juan Bautista and Watsonville sites.
Speedling's go-to-market is a hybrid sales-led and channel-partner model: vegetables go direct through named regional sales reps (Becky Tillery, West Coast; Jared Smith, East Coast), ornamentals flow exclusively through horticultural brokers (Griffin, Ball Seed, Express Seed, Henry F. Michell, McHutchison, Vaughan's, Bill Moore, Eason, Messick), and EPS/hort items are sold direct via phone, email, or web order with no minimum order requirement. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The company has remained privately held since 1968 under CEO/President Greg Davis, has never undertaken a public listing or disclosed external funding, and has not been involved in a merger or acquisition since the 1997 Watsonville addition.
Speedling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Speedling
- Legal name
- Speedling Incorporated
- Website
- https://speedling.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Speedling is a privately held, Florida-founded agricultural company that grows vegetable and ornamental plant transplants using its proprietary inverted pyramid cell tray technology, operating nine production facilities across the US for commercial farmers, ornamental growers, and seafood shippers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Speedling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial plant transplants and horticultural supplies
- NAICS
- Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Propagation & Seedling/Plug Production (Vegetable Transplants, Tissue-Culture Liners) (AFAGAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Nursery Stock & Propagule Production (Cuttings, Rootstocks, Grafts) (AFAGAIAO), Nursery Production (Woody Ornamentals: Trees, Shrubs, Roses) (AFAGAHAF)
Keywords
Where Speedling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ruskin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Speedling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Vegetable Transplants: Speedling produces and sells vegetable transplants (plugs) to commercial farmers nationwide. Products include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, fennel, kale, lettuce, onions, peppers, tobacco, tomatoes, watermelon, and squash. Sales are made through direct sales representatives and customer service teams.
- Ornamental Transplants: Speedling grows and sells ornamental plant plugs including Begonias, Snapdragon, Petunias, Vinca, Gerbera, and their exclusive Fast Finish Geranium line. Distribution is primarily through a broker network, with direct accounts available for larger producers. Also offers contract growing for finished products.
- Contract Growing: Speedling produces finished potted products on a contract basis for direct customers, including ornamental annuals and poinsettias during holiday seasons.
- EPS Products: Speedling manufactures and sells expanded polystyrene (EPS) products including fish boxes (insulated containers for seafood/perishables), Speedling boxes in various sizes, and planter trays. Products are manufactured on-site and available to ship across the U.S. or internationally.
- Horticultural Products: Speedling offers complementary horticultural products including gel packs, heat packs, SuperCote (tray coating to extend flat life), inserts for planter flats, and Peatlite Mix (80% peat moss, 10% perlite, 10% vermiculite).
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Speedling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Speedling grows and sells commercial vegetable and ornamental plant transplant plugs to farmers and nurseries across the United States using its proprietary inverted pyramid cell tray technology. It also manufactures expanded polystyrene (EPS) boxes, lids, and trays and supplies complementary horticultural products such as gel packs, heat packs, tray coatings, and growing mixes. Operations span nine greenhouse and manufacturing facilities in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and California, with sales handled directly for vegetables and through a network of horticultural brokers for ornamentals.
Product overview
Speedling is an agricultural company specializing in plant transplants with a three-division portfolio: Vegetable Transplants (plug production for commercial farmers growing broccoli, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, melons, and other vegetables), Ornamental Transplants (including Begonias, Petunias, Geraniums, Pansies, and Violas), and EPS/Horticultural Products (expanded polystyrene boxes and trays plus horticultural supplies like gel packs and growing media). The company's proprietary inverted pyramid cell tray technology, invented in 1968, underpins its transplant production, enabling air-pruning of taproots and efficient transplant extraction. Ornamental products flow through a network of broker partners to growers, while vegetable products are sold directly through sales representatives. An online Field Calculator tool supports customer planning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vegetable Transplants Commercial vegetable transplant plugs sold to commercial farmers nationwide, covering crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, fennel, kale, lettuce, onions, peppers, tobacco, tomatoes, watermelon, and squash.
- Ornamental Transplants Ornamental plant plugs including Begonias, Snapdragon, Petunias, Vinca, Gerbera, Pansies, Violas, and the exclusive Fast Finish Geranium line grown in Florida sunshine and shipped budded with visible bud.
- Finished Plant Contract Growing Contract production of finished potted ornamental plants and finished plant materials for direct customers and larger producers on a contract basis.
- EPS Boxes Expanded polystyrene insulated containers — including fish boxes (insulated seafood shipping boxes) and Speedling boxes in Single Standard, Double, Small, Medium, and Large sizes — manufactured on-site at the Sun City, Florida facility and shipped across the U.S. or internationally.
- Planter Trays Speedling inverted pyramid design planter trays sold in R-Model variants (e.g., TR128R for traditional greenhouses with T-rail suspension) and 128- or 72-cell configurations, with approximate outside dimensions of 26-5/8 × 13-5/8 inches.
- Horticultural Products Complementary horticultural products including G8/G16/G24 Gel Packs, Heat Packs, SuperCote tray coating to extend flat life, inserts for planter flats, and Peatlite Mix (80% peat moss, 10% perlite, 10% vermiculite).
Quantifiable outcome
- Speedling plugs have over 50 years of proven performance in commercial agriculture
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Speedling
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Speedling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Speedling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- VTNA (Valley Transplant Nurseries Association)minorVTNA is a strategic partner in the transplant nursery industry, likely representing or collaborating with Valley Transplant Nurseries Association on industry initiatives and best practices.
- Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA)minorFFVA is a trade association representing Florida's produce industry. Speedling partners with FFVA for industry advocacy and collaboration.
- Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA)minorFNGLA is the state's largest trade association for the nursery and landscape industry. Speedling maintains partnership for industry representation.
- Henry F. Michell CompanycoreOrnamental broker partner serving the horticulture industry. Customers can request Speedling plugs through Henry F. Michell when placing orders.
- GriffincoreMajor ornamental broker partner for horticulture products including Speedling plugs.
- Express Seed CompanycoreOrnamental broker partner for Speedling plug distribution.
- McHutchisoncoreHorticultural broker partner distributing Speedling ornamental products.
- Vaughan's HorticulturecoreOrnamental broker partner for Speedling plugs and products.
- Bill Moore & CompanycoreFlorida-based horticultural broker partner for Speedling ornamental distribution.
- Ball Seed CompanycoreMajor seed and ornamental broker distributing Speedling products.
- Eason Horticultural ResourcescoreHorticultural broker partner for Speedling ornamental products.
- Messick Co.coreCalifornia-based horticultural broker partner for Speedling products.
- Purdue UniversityminorUniversity partnership for agricultural research and industry improvement. Speedling partners closely with Purdue to enhance their business and the industry.
- Ohio State UniversityminorUniversity partnership for agricultural education and research. Partner for 1-year international internship program.
- University of FloridaminorUniversity of Florida partnership through UF/IFAS for vegetable production resources and research collaboration.
- University of MinnesotaminorUniversity partnership for 1-year international internship program in agriculture.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Speedling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Dümmen Orange: Global Dutch-based leader in ornamental breeding, propagation, and young plant supply with extensive North American operations. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the ornamental young-plant/plug space where Speedling competes for finished-grower wallet share.
- Syngenta Flowers: Global ornamentals seed and cutting business of Syngenta operating alongside its crop protection franchise. Comparable as a broad incumbent supplying genetics that flow through plug growers like Speedling to reach finished ornamental growers.
Direct peers
- Pacific Plug & Liner: California-based producer of ornamental plugs and liners serving North American growers. Directly comparable to Speedling's ornamental transplant division in product type, customer base, and Western US footprint.
- Ball Seed Company: Ball Seed is the distribution arm of Ball Horticultural Company and a leading US seller of seeds, plugs, and liners to ornamental growers. Highly comparable to Speedling's ornamental plug business given shared customer base and product overlap, and also listed as one of Speedling's broker partners.
- PanAmerican Seed: Ball Horticultural's breeding and seed division producing F1 hybrid flower and vegetable seeds, with plug production programs through partner growers. Comparable to Speedling in serving the same plug/transplant end-market for both ornamentals and vegetables.
- Sakata Ornamentals: US arm of Sakata Seed Corporation producing ornamental and vegetable genetics widely grown out as plugs for finishers. Comparable as a competing supply line into the same plug/transplant customer base, particularly on the seed-input side Speedling helps commercialize.
- Knox Nursery: Long-established Florida greenhouse plug and liner producer serving ornamentals and vegetables. Directly comparable as a regional transplant competitor with overlapping climate, customer base, and ornamental/vegetable product mix.
- EuroAmerican Propagators: Bonsall, CA propagator specializing in starter plants and rooted liners for ornamental finishers. Comparable to Speedling's ornamental transplant business in customer, product format (young plant inputs), and West Coast operations.
- Greenheart Farms: Arroyo Grande, CA producer of vegetable and ornamental plugs and contract-grown finished plants. Directly comparable as a multi-facility West Coast plug/transplant grower serving commercial growers and ornamental producers.
- Magnolia Gardens Nursery: Texas-based ornamental liner and plug producer serving growers across the southern US. Comparable to Speedling's ornamental transplant operations in crop mix, customer type, and regional US grower focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Speedling social profiles
Digital presenceSpeedling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Speedling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Speedling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Speedling M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Speedling
What does Speedling do?
Speedling grows and sells commercial vegetable and ornamental plant transplant plugs to farmers and nurseries across the United States using its proprietary inverted pyramid cell tray technology. It also manufactures expanded polystyrene (EPS) boxes, lids, and trays and supplies complementary horticultural products such as gel packs, heat packs, tray coatings, and growing mixes. Operations span nine greenhouse and manufacturing facilities in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and California, with sales handled directly for vegetables and through a network of horticultural brokers for ornamentals.
Is Speedling a public or private company?
Speedling is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Speedling founded?
Speedling was founded in 1968. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Speedling based?
Speedling is headquartered in Ruskin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Speedling make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Vegetable Transplants are the primary driver. The others are ornamental Transplants, contract Growing, EPS Products and horticultural Products.
Who are Speedling's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Dümmen Orange and Syngenta Flowers. Direct peers are Pacific Plug & Liner, Ball Seed Company, PanAmerican Seed, Sakata Ornamentals, Knox Nursery, EuroAmerican Propagators, Greenheart Farms and Magnolia Gardens Nursery.
Does Speedling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Speedling.
What industry is Speedling in?
Speedling's product category is Commercial plant transplants and horticultural supplies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAHAG, Propagation & Seedling/Plug Production (Vegetable Transplants, Tissue-Culture Liners), with a secondary code of AFAGAIAO, Nursery Stock & Propagule Production (Cuttings, Rootstocks, Grafts). Its NAICS code is 1114 and its SIC code is 100.