Pearl City Elevator

What Pearl City Elevator does

Pearl City Elevator, Inc. (PCE) is a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative founded in 1918/1920 and headquartered in Lena, Illinois, operating 8 co-op locations across Northern Illinois with 101-250 employees. PCE serves farmers, homeowners, and businesses through four integrated product divisions: Grain Services (three state-licensed grain-handling facilities with combined 5.6 million bushels of storage, multi-contract grain marketing, and the modern Alliance Commodities facility with 40,000 bu/hr unloading), Agronomy Solutions (crop nutrition, crop protection, seed, and precision farming using RTK, drone imagery, and data analytics), Propane & Energy (LP gas to 4,500+ residential, commercial, and agricultural customers across 20 counties plus fuel contracting up to 12 months), and Alliance Animal Nutrition (a custom feed mill with pelleting, ration balancing, and multi-vendor distribution).

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based grain marketing, propane and fuel sales, agronomy input sales, and custom feed manufacturing, with ancillary recurring revenue from annual propane tank leases ($125-$175/tank), usage-based grain storage and out-charges, and credit-account interest (24% APR). PCE also holds majority ownership of Adkins Energy, a 21 million bushel/year ethanol plant in Lena that provides a captive end-market for member-producers' corn, and operates the PCE Empowering Foundation (501(c)(3)) for community programs.

Distribution is hybrid: physical retail at the 8 co-op branches, direct-to-customer delivery for propane and fuel, and a self-serve online customer portal for account management and bill payment. GTM is sales-led relationship marketing — direct field sales to farmers, in-person retail to homeowners, and dedicated propane/fuel delivery routes. As a cooperative, residual earnings flow back to member-producers through patronage refunds, which is central to the ownership and customer-loyalty model.

Name

Pearl City Elevator

Legal name

Pearl City Elevator, Inc.

Website

https://pce-coops.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pearl City Elevator is a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative operating 8 co-op locations across Northern Illinois, providing grain marketing and storage, agronomy inputs, propane and fuel delivery, and custom feed manufacturing to farmers, homeowners, and businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Cooperative Services

NAICS

Other Poultry Production (11239)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Country & Inland Grain Elevators (Receiving/Shipping) (AFAOAAAA)

Keywords

• Agricultural cooperative services
• Grain marketing storage
• Precision agronomy solutions
• Propane energy delivery
• Livestock feed manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grain Marketing Services: PCE operates three state-licensed grain-handling facilities with combined 5.6 million bushels storage. Revenue from grain sales, storage charges, and marketing services. Offers cash bids, forward contracts, HTA contracts, basis contracts, and average pricing programs.
2. Grain Storage and Handling: Storage charges for corn (minimum 22 cents through Dec 31, 2023, then 4 cents/month) and soybeans (minimum 25 cents through Dec 31, 2023, then 5 cents/month). Out charges of 20 cents per bushel.
3. Propane and Energy Sales: PCE Energy provides LP service to over 4,500 residential, commercial, and agricultural customers in 20 counties. Revenue from propane sales, tank leasing (120-1000 gallon tanks at $125-$175/year), fuel sales including gasoline, diesel, and biofuel.
4. Animal Nutrition and Feed Sales: Alliance Animal Nutrition operates as PCE's feed manufacturing division. Services include custom feed mixes, bagged feed products, and multi-vendor dealer for livestock, companion animals, and wildlife.
5. Agronomy Products and Services: Crop nutrition and protection products including fertilizers, crop protection chemicals, seed sales (Dekalb/Asgrow, Croplan, NK, Brevant, Agrigold), custom application services, and precision farming technology services.
6. Credit Account Interest: PCE offers credit accounts to customers with 24% APR. Interest charged on unpaid balances carried past due date. Minimum monthly interest charge of $15.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pearl City Elevator (PCE) is a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative operating 8 co-op locations across Northern Illinois. The company delivers grain marketing and storage services (5.6M bushels combined capacity), precision agronomy solutions, propane and refined fuel energy supply (4,500+ customers across 20 counties), and custom livestock feed manufacturing through its Alliance Nutrition division.

Product overview

Pearl City Elevator (PCE) is an agricultural cooperative operating 8 locations across Northern Illinois that offers a diversified portfolio of products and services organized into four core divisions: Grain Services (with Alliance Commodities as the flagship grain marketing facility), Agronomy Solutions (crop nutrition, protection, and seed products), Propane & Energy Services (serving 4,500+ customers), and Alliance Animal Nutrition (custom feed manufacturing and multi-vendor animal feed distribution). The cooperative provides farm customers with integrated access to grain storage/marketing, precision agronomy services, fuel/propane supply, and livestock feed products, enabling farmers to source multiple inputs and marketing services through a single cooperative relationship. PCE also holds majority ownership in Adkins Energy ethanol plant, providing grain end-market access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alliance Commodities: Grain marketing division with high-speed dump pits, 40,000 bu/hr unloading capacity, and 2.2 million bushels storage.
• Alliance Nutrition
• PCE Energy
• PCE Agronomy Solutions

Products and services

• Grain Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.6 million bushels of grain storage capacity across 3 facilities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Adkins EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCE is the majority owner of Adkins Energy, a modern ethanol plant processing approximately 21 million bushels of local corn annually in Lena. This partnership provides PCE grain customers with direct market access for corn sales and processing.
• ADMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of multiple grain vendors offering direct bids to PCE for grain marketing
• ViterionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of multiple grain vendors offering direct bids to PCE for grain marketing
• ViterraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of multiple grain vendors offering direct bids to PCE for grain marketing
• CGB AlbanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of multiple grain vendors offering direct bids to PCE for grain marketing
• BadgerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of multiple grain vendors offering direct bids to PCE for grain marketing
• Bocker RuffminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of multiple grain vendors offering direct bids to PCE for grain marketing
• Purina (Land O'Lakes)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPCE is partnered with Purina providing a variety of Purina-based products for animal nutrition including equine feeds and supplements
• Dekalb/AsgrowcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed brand offerings for corn and soybeans as part of PCE's agronomy portfolio
• Croplan, NK, Brevant, AgrigoldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed brand portfolio for corn and soybeans as part of PCE's agronomy offerings
• Mazuri Exotic Animal NutritionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for Mazuri products for exotic animals and wildlife
• Hubbard FeedsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBagged feed products including Hubbard brand available at PCE locations
• LaCrosse SeedsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSource for small seeds and cereals including turf grasses, pasture mixes, winter rye, and oats

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): Global agribusiness major that buys grain from PCE (and others) and competes for origination. Functions as both a customer and a competitive incumbent in grain marketing and crop input distribution.
• CHS Inc. Largest U.S. agricultural cooperative, with energy, agronomy, grain, and food production across global markets. Operates broadly overlapping capabilities with PCE but at vastly greater scale and with international reach.
• Land O'Lakes: Major farmer-owned cooperative known for dairy, animal nutrition (Purina), and crop inputs. Overlaps with PCE's feed/nutrition and agronomy offerings as a broad incumbent; PCE is actually a Purina dealer partner.
• Cargill: One of the largest private agribusiness companies in the world, active in grain origination, crop inputs, and animal nutrition globally. Competes with PCE for farmer customers and grain origination volume at scale.

Direct peers

• Premier Cooperative: Wisconsin and Northern Illinois-based agricultural cooperative offering grain, agronomy, energy, and feed services. Overlaps significantly with PCE's footprint and product mix as a regional co-op competitor.
• Growmark: Large regional agricultural cooperative serving the Midwest with grain, agronomy, energy, and feed products. Directly comparable to PCE in business model, member-owned structure, and multi-division offering, but at significantly greater scale across multiple states.
• Heartland Co-op: Iowa-based agricultural cooperative with grain handling, agronomy, and feed operations. Comparable cooperative structure and core grain elevator operations, though with Iowa rather than Illinois geographic focus.
• Country Partners Cooperative: Mid-sized agricultural cooperative operating in Illinois and surrounding states with grain, agronomy, and energy services. Closely comparable to PCE in scale, geographic footprint, and product mix, serving as a near-direct regional peer.
• MFA Incorporated: Regional farmer-owned cooperative based in Missouri with grain, agronomy, animal nutrition, and energy divisions. Directly comparable cooperative model and product breadth, though serving a different Midwestern geography.

Regional players

• Cooperative Producers Inc. (CPI): Nebraska-based agricultural cooperative providing grain, agronomy, energy, and feed services to producers. Comparable in cooperative model and product mix but operating in a different Midwestern geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/pcecoop
• Facebookfacebook.com/pcecoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pcecoop
• Instagraminstagram.com/pcecoop

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries9 records

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 Pearl City Elevator