Kugler

What Kugler does

Kugler Company is a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of liquid fertilizer products headquartered in McCook, Nebraska, with manufacturing facilities in Culbertson (the original 1924 location), Burlington, Cheyenne Wells, Ulysses, Sterling, and Rapid City. Founded in 1924 by Carl Kugler as a small service station in Culbertson, the company divested its convenience store and fuel station business in 2013 to focus exclusively on liquid fertilizer production and distribution, and today ships product coast-to-coast across the US and internationally by truck and rail.

The company's product portfolio centers on proprietary liquid fertilizer chemistry, most notably the KQ-XRN platform (a 28-0-0 formulation with 72% slow-release nitrogen that provides nitrogen for up to 10 weeks in soil and up to 35 days on leaves). The portfolio also includes multi-nutrient essential KQ starters (KQ342, KQ353, KQ555, KQ652, KQ663), specialty starters using XRN Technology (KS143SF, KS156, LS924, LS624, KQ2530X, KS2075, KS178c), high ortho low-salt K-CARB ProStart (launched February 2025), ammonium thiosulfate (ATS 12-0-0-26S), potassium thiosulfate KQ2517, humate KH2412, micronutrient KSMicroMax, the Green Reaper herbicide adjuvant, and the K-Lawn line. Underlying technical differentiators include the "Power of Synergism" formulation concept, low-salt processing, and EPA approval (June 2018) for KQ-XRN and KS2075 as carriers for Engenia and XtendiMax dicamba herbicides.

Kugler operates a wholesale hardware-sales revenue model, selling through a network of more than 100 local, regional, and national dealers and distributors, with quote-based pricing and no public price list. The K-Lawn division runs a 25-year-old dealership model targeting lawn care entrepreneurs across the Midwest as franchise-style operators. End customers include commercial row crop growers (corn, wheat, soybeans, milo, canola), turf and lawn care professionals, and dealers; marketing is conducted through agricultural trade shows, video testimonials, a mobile product recommendation app, and annual field results publications. The company remains a third-generation family-owned private business with no disclosed private equity or venture capital involvement.

Name

Kugler

Legal name

Kugler Company

Website

https://kuglercompany.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kugler Company is a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of liquid fertilizer products founded in 1924 in Nebraska, producing proprietary slow-release nitrogen and specialty crop nutrition products distributed through dealers across the US and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Liquid Fertilizers

NAICS

Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253), Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing (325314), Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers (4442)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Blending & Private-Label Specialty Fertilizers (AFABACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

NPK & Compound/Blended Fertilizers (IMAEAEAD), Specialty Fertilizers for Horticulture & Controlled Environment (Greenhouse, Hydroponic, Nursery) (AFABACAL), Soils, Mulch, Fertilizers & Lawn Care Chemicals Retail (CRAIAIAC), Fertilizer & Nutrient Retail (Dry, Liquid, Blends) (AFABAJAF)

Keywords

• Liquid fertilizer manufacturing
• Slow release nitrogen
• Agricultural specialty fertilizers
• Ammonium thiosulfate production
• Turf and lawn care products

Headquarters

HQ city

Mc Cook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Liquid Fertilizer Products: Kugler manufactures and sells a full line of quality liquid fertilizer products including essential KQ fertilizers, specialty fertilizers, ammonium thiosulfate (ATS), and lawn care products under the K-Lawn brand. Products are marketed across the country through distributors.
2. Specialty Fertilizer Products: High-margin specialty products including KQ-XRN slow release nitrogen, K-CARB ProStart, and other premium formulations for agricultural and turf applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kugler manufactures and sells a full line of liquid fertilizer products, including Essential KQ fertilizers, KQ Specialty Fertilizers (featuring proprietary KQ-XRN 72% slow release nitrogen), Ammonium Thiosulfate (ATS 12-0-0-26S), and lawn care products under the K-Lawn brand. Products are sold through a network of dealers and distributors across the United States and internationally, serving agricultural crop growers and turf/lawn care professionals with split application, starter, foliar, and pivot fertility programs.

Product overview

Kugler Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of liquid fertilizer products for agriculture and turf applications. The core product line includes Essential KQ Fertilizers (KQ342, KQ353, KQ555, KQ652, KQ663) providing multi-nutrient solutions with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and zinc. Specialty products feature proprietary KQ-XRN™ technology with 72% slow-release nitrogen, while the K-CARB ProStart line offers high ortho, low-salt formulations. The company also produces ATS (Ammonium Thiosulfate) for nitrogen stabilization, KS series starters (KS143SF, KS156, KS178c) with XRN technology, and micronutrient products (KSMicroMax). Supporting products include KQ2517 (potassium plus sulfur), KH2412 (humate), and LS924/LS624 low-salt starters. For turf care, K-Lawn™ provides a dealership model with specialized lawn fertilizers. Green Reaper adjuvant enables effective herbicide delivery. All products emphasize the company's 'Power of Synergism' concept where nutrients are formulated to work together for enhanced plant uptake.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KQ-XRN: A proprietary nitrogen (28-0-0) formulation with 72% slow release nitrogen. Foliar or in-furrow application providing high-quality nitrogen for up to 10 weeks in soil and up to 35 days on leaves.
• K-CARB ProStart
• Green Reaper
• K-Lawn

Products and services

• KQ-XRN (28-0-0) Slow Release Nitrogen Proprietary slow-release nitrogen formulation with 72% slow release nitrogen, applied foliar or in-furrow. Provides nitrogen for up to 10 weeks in soil and 35 days on leaves and serves as a delivery system for crop protection chemicals. For agricultural crop growers.
• K-CARB ProStart High ortho, low-salt starter fertilizer with complete nutrient package and fulvic for soil carbon management. One-pass in-furrow application at planting for row crops. For agricultural growers seeking complete nutrient delivery.
• Essential KQ Fertilizers (KQ555, KQ342, KQ353, KQ652, KQ663) Core multi-nutrient liquid fertilizer lineup including KQ555 starter (N-P-K-S-Zn), KQ342 topdress for wheat in cold soils (N-K-S-Zn), KQ353 pivot grade fertilizer (N-K-S-Zn), KQ652 high phosphorus starter (N-P-K-S-Zn), and KQ663 high nitrogen starter with 1:1 N:P ratio (N-P-K-S-Zn). For agricultural crop growers using starter, preplant, cultivation, and pivot applications.
• KQ Specialty Fertilizers (KS143SF, KS156, LS924, KQ2530X, KQ2517, KS2075, KH2412, KSMicroMax, KS178c, LS624) Comprehensive specialty lineup including low-salt starters (KS143SF, KS156, LS924, LS624), XRN-integrated foliar/topdress products (KQ2530X, KS178c), potassium/sulfur source (KQ2517), turf-formulated product (KS2075), Leonardite-derived humate (KH2412), and micronutrient blend (KSMicroMax). For agricultural and turf professionals.
• Ammonium Thiosulfate (ATS 12-0-0-26S) Standard liquid fertilizer that stabilizes and maximizes nitrogen while increasing nitrogen use efficiency. Compatible with most fluid NPK sources, with more rapid oxidation than elemental sulfur sources and higher analysis than other fluid sulfur sources. For agricultural crop growers.
• K-Lawn Lawn Care Dealership Program 25-year lawn care dealership program offering comprehensive training, fertilizers, and chemicals for lawn care businesses across the Midwest. For lawn care entrepreneurs seeking to build or expand a professional lawn care operation.
• Green Reaper Adjuvant Non-ionic adjuvant that serves as a carrier to deliver herbicides onto leaf surface and into targeted weeds. Extends product stay on leaf, enhances penetration, rain fast within one hour. Effective on resistant weed strains. For agricultural crop growers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Corn yield increases of 10-30 bu/acre reported on lighter soils with KQ-XRN applications
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hydrite Chemical CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2015Expanded partnership for production of KQ2517 High Potassium plus Sulfur (Potassium Thiosulfate, 0-0-25-17S) at Hydrite's Terre Haute, Indiana facility, ensuring reliable supply in virtually all major corn producing states.
• Hydrite Chemical CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2013Long-term agreement between Kugler Company and Wisconsin-based Hydrite Chemical Company for ATS production. Hydrite's Terre Haute, Indiana facility produces high-quality ammonium thiosulphate for the Central and Eastern Cornbelts, with production at Waterloo, Iowa plant also expanded. This partnership enabled Kugler's expansion into the Central and Eastern Cornbelt regions.
• Colorado Retail Ventures Services, L.L.C.minorOthers · 17 January 2013Kugler sold its K-Stores convenience stores and service stations business (5 locations in Kansas and Nebraska) to Colorado Retail Ventures Services, L.L.C., which renamed them Eagle Travel Stops and Convenience Stores.
• American Agricultural LaboratoryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRecommended testing laboratory for fertilizer product analysis. Located at 210 East 1st Street, McCook, NE 69001, tel. 308.345.3670.
• Midwest LaboratoriesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRecommended testing laboratory for fertilizer product analysis. Located at 13611 'B' Street, Omaha, NE 68144, tel. 402.334.7770.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nutrien: Nutrien is the world's largest crop inputs provider with a broad liquid fertilizer product line and an extensive retail network in North America. It competes with Kugler in starter, foliar, and slow-release liquid fertilizer categories sold through retail agronomy centers.
• ICL Group: ICL is a global specialty fertilizers and plant nutrition company with significant liquid and soluble fertilizer offerings. It is named alongside Kugler as a leading liquid fertilizers market player and competes in specialty plant nutrition for agriculture and turf.
• Yara International: Yara is one of the world's largest nitrogen fertilizer producers and is identified alongside Kugler as a leading player in the global liquid fertilizers market. While its portfolio is much broader and globally distributed, it directly competes in liquid N and specialty fertilizer segments.
• JR Simplot (Simplot Grower Solutions): JR Simplot is a major diversified agribusiness with retail fertilizer operations and proprietary crop nutrition products. It competes with Kugler in liquid fertilizer sales to growers, especially in the Western U.S. and Pacific Northwest.
• SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile): SQM is a global specialty plant nutrition and iodine/lithium producer, identified alongside Kugler as a leading market player in liquid fertilizers. It competes in specialty water-soluble and liquid potassium-based nutrient products globally.
• Compass Minerals: Compass Minerals produces specialty plant nutrition products including sulfate of potash and liquid fertilizer solutions. It overlaps with Kugler's specialty potassium and sulfur offerings such as KQ2517 High Potassium plus Sulfur.

Direct peers

• Haifa Group: Haifa Group is a global specialty fertilizer company focused on water-soluble and liquid plant nutrition products. Its product line and dealer-driven model are directly comparable to Kugler's specialty liquid fertilizers and K-Lawn-style end-customer solutions.
• AgroLiquid: AgroLiquid is a closely held U.S. manufacturer of specialty liquid fertilizer products with proprietary formulations and a dealer-distributor network. It is the most direct competitor to Kugler's specialty liquid fertilizer and slow-release nitrogen portfolio, targeting the same row-crop and turf customers in the Midwest.
• Helena Agri-Enterprises: Helena Agri-Enterprises is a U.S. distributor and formulator of crop protection and specialty fertilizer products, including liquid adjuvants and nutrient blends. It competes with Kugler in crop input retail channels across the Midwest and Cornbelt.

Others

• CVR Partners (LSB Industries): CVR Partners is a nitrogen fertilizer producer supplying UAN and ammonium products to agricultural customers. While not a direct specialty liquid competitor, it is a relevant feedstock and pricing reference for Kugler's nitrogen-based formulations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KuglerCompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/kuglercompany
• Xx.com/kuglercompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kugler-oil-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kugler