Howard Johnson
Howard Johnson's Enterprises (HJE) is a U.S. manufacturer of turf fertilizers, ice-melt products, and insect/weed control solutions. Founded in 1962 and owned by Central Garden & Pet, HJE serves professional turf managers and retail homeowners nationwide through distributor and direct channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersNeosho, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Howard Johnson does
Howard Johnson's Enterprises (HJE) is a U.S. manufacturer and distributor of turf, fertilizer, and ice-melt products, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Garden & Pet Company (CG&P). Founded in 1962 in Wisconsin as a blended farm fertilizer supplier, HJE completely divested from farm fertilizers in 1982 and refocused exclusively on turf products for both professional and retail channels. The company is privately held, has 51-100 employees, and distributes nationwide through direct sales for professional accounts and channel/reseller relationships for retail.
HJE's product portfolio spans three categories: professional turf products (pre-emergent, post-emergent, golf course/turf & ornamental, insect control, and granular fungicides), retail consumer fertilizers (All-Season and All Purpose fertilizers in multiple NPK formulations including 10-10-10, 12-12-12, 16-16-16, and others, plus the KnockOut insect and weed control sub-brand), and seasonal ice and snow melters (Zero Ice and Pet-Guard). Product differentiation is positioned around cost-efficiency versus national brand competitors, use-case specialization (e.g., pet-safe ice melt), and regional formulation needs. The underlying technology is traditional chemical formulation; there are no proprietary AI/ML capabilities, no mobile applications, and no platform-based architecture.
HJE serves two primary customer segments — the professional turf industry (golf courses, sports fields, commercial lawn care services) through direct sales, and retail consumers (homeowners) through reseller and home improvement channels. Revenue is generated through unit pricing on a pay-as-you-go basis across both segments, with no public pricing or subscription model. The company does not disclose revenue, has no external funding rounds, and operates without a named management team in the available data. Strategic positioning is supported by CG&P's nationwide distribution and corporate resources, but HJE itself is a sub-scale product subsidiary within a much larger diversified conglomerate.
Howard Johnson firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Howard Johnson
- Legal name
- Howard Johnson's Enterprises
- Website
- https://hjefertilizer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Howard Johnson's Enterprises (HJE) is a U.S. manufacturer of turf fertilizers, ice-melt products, and insect/weed control solutions. Founded in 1962 and owned by Central Garden & Pet, HJE serves professional turf managers and retail homeowners nationwide through distributor and direct channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Howard Johnson industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Turf and Lawn Care Products
- NAICS
- Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253), Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532)
- SIC
- Agricultural Chemicals (2870)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Turf Care (Fertilization, Aeration & Weed/Pest Control) (IMAIAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Soils, Mulch, Fertilizers & Lawn Care Chemicals Retail (CRAIAIAC), Lawn & Ornamental Insect Control (Grubs, Chinch Bugs, Aphids) (HSAIANAH), Outdoor & Yard Pest Control (Lawn/Perimeter Treatments) (CRAJAHAE)
Keywords
Where Howard Johnson is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Neosho
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Howard Johnson business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Turf Products: Products sold to professional turf industry including golf courses, turf management companies, and lawn care professionals. Includes Pre-Emergent, Post-Emergent, Golf Course/Turf & Ornamental, Insect Control, and Granular Fungicide products.
- Retail Consumer Products: Products sold through retail channels to homeowners for lawn and garden care. Includes All-Season fertilizers, All Purpose fertilizers, KnockOut insect and weed control products.
- Ice & Snow Melts: Seasonal products including Zero Ice and Pet-Guard ice and snow melter products sold to both retail and professional customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Products - Turf fertilizers and treatments for golf courses and turf management |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retail Products - Consumer lawn and garden care products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ice & Snow Melts - Seasonal ice melting products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
Howard Johnson product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Howard Johnson's Enterprises manufactures and sells turf fertilizers, ice and snow melters, and insect/weed control products. The company produces three main product categories: (1) Professional turf products (Pre-Emergent, Post-Emergent, Golf Course/Turf & Ornamental, Insect Control, and Granular Fungicide) for golf courses and commercial turf management; (2) Retail fertilizers and KnockOut insect/weed control products for residential lawn and garden care; and (3) Ice and snow melters (Zero Ice and Pet-Guard) for both retail and professional customers.
Product overview
Howard Johnson's Enterprises is a turf products company that manufactures fertilizers, ice melters, and insect/weed control products. Founded in 1962 in Wisconsin, the company initially sold blended farm fertilizers but pivoted exclusively to turf products in 1982. Now owned by Central Garden & Pet, the company operates as a unified product portfolio rather than a modular platform architecture. The product offering consists of three main categories: (1) Professional and retail fertilizers including All Purpose Fertilizers with multiple NPK formulations for flowers, trees, shrubs, and vegetable gardens; (2) Ice and Snow Melters including Zero Ice (magnesium/potassium/sodium chloride formula for temperatures below zero) and Pet-Guard (sodium-free, pet-safe formula); and (3) KnockOut Insect and Weed Control products including Weed & Grass Killer, Ant/Flea/Tick Killer, Fire Ant Killer Plus!, and Indoor/Outdoor Insect Killer for residential applications. Products are distributed nationwide through retail and professional channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Zero Ice: Ice & Snow Melter products that work fast to melt ice, snow, and sleet to temperatures below zero degrees. Aqua-tinted crystals are easy-to-see and apply to walkways, driveways, and steps.
- Pet-Guard
- KnockOut
Products and services
- Howard Johnson's Professional Turf Products Professional-grade turf products including Pre-Emergent, Post-Emergent, Golf Course/Turf & Ornamental, Insect Control, and Granular Fungicide formulations for commercial turf management at golf courses, sports fields, and lawn care operations.
- Howard Johnson's Retail Turf Products Consumer-grade lawn and garden fertilizers including All-Season and All Purpose varieties for residential turf and garden care.
- All Purpose Fertilizer General-purpose fertilizers for flowers, trees, shrubs, and vegetable gardens, available in multiple NPK formulations including 10-10-10, 10-20-10, 12-12-12, 12-24-12, 13-13-13, 16-16-16, and 5-10-5.
- Zero Ice Ice & Snow Melter Ice and snow melting product containing magnesium, potassium, and sodium chloride. Features aqua-tinted crystals for easy visibility and works to temperatures below zero degrees without harming surfaces. Available in multiple sizes including poly bags, boxes, pails, and shaker jugs.
- Pet-Guard Ice & Snow Melter Ice and snow melting product specifically designed for use around pets and children. 100% sodium free, environmentally friendly formula that will not harm plants, grass, or shrubs. Features green-tinted crystals, is non-corrosive, works on contact, and leaves no white residue.
- KnockOut Weed & Grass Killer Ready-to-use weed and grass killer that kills weeds at the root. For use around flower beds, trees, and shrubs. Kills weeds including dandelion, johnson grass, clover, and plantain. Contains Glyphosate.
- KnockOut Ant, Flea and Tick Killer Granular insecticide that kills ants, fleas, ticks, grubs, and mole crickets in lawns and landscapes. Available in 10 lb. packaging.
- KnockOut Fire Ant Killer Plus! Granular fire ant killer that also kills ants, fleas, ticks, and other bugs. Contains Bifenthrin. Available in 3.5 lb. packaging.
- KnockOut Indoor/Outdoor Insect Killer Ready-to-use insecticide for indoor, outdoor, garage, and porch use. Kills ants, roaches, spiders, silverfish, and fleas. Contains Permethrin. Available in 24 oz. and 1 gallon sizes.
Companies that use Howard Johnson
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Howard Johnson technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Howard Johnson partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Howard Johnson competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company: Dominant national brand in consumer lawn and garden care including fertilizers, weed control, and pest control products. Directly comparable to HJE in retail channels through brands like Scotts, Turf Builder, and Ortho, but operates at vastly greater scale with broader product portfolio.
- The Andersons, Inc. Diversified manufacturer serving agriculture, turf, and specialty markets with fertilizers, control products, and ice melt products. Directly comparable product overlap with HJE in professional turf and ice melt categories, though operating at substantially larger scale across multiple segments.
- SiteOne Landscape Supply: Largest wholesale distributor of landscape supplies in the US, serving professional landscapers with fertilizers, control products, and turf inputs. Comparable to HJE's professional turf segment, but operates a broad-line distribution model versus HJE's manufacturing focus.
- J.R. Simplot Company: Major privately held agribusiness with fertilizer and turf products including professional turf nutrition. Comparable to HJE in fertilizer formulation and professional turf segment, but operates at much larger scale and across broader agricultural markets.
- Central Garden & Pet Company: Howard Johnson's parent company and a major diversified player in lawn, garden, and pet supplies. As the corporate parent, CG&P directly shapes HJE's distribution, capital, and strategic direction; also a peer in that broader turf and lawn care category at much larger scale.
Direct peers
- Lebanon Seaboard Corporation: Privately held manufacturer of specialty fertilizers and turf care products for both professional and consumer markets. Highly comparable to HJE in product mix (fertilizers, combination products, professional turf), customer segments, and mid-size manufacturer profile.
- Bonide Products: Privately held manufacturer of lawn and garden pest control, weed control, and fertilizer products sold through retail channels. Closely comparable to HJE's KnockOut product line and retail go-to-market motion, with similar mid-size manufacturer positioning.
- AMVAC Chemical Corporation: Manufacturer of specialty chemical products for crop protection, turf, and pest control markets. Directly comparable to HJE in pest control product lines (KnockOut Insect Control), with similar focus on proven active ingredients in consumer and professional channels.
Emerging players
- Espoma Organic: Manufacturer of organic and natural lawn and garden fertilizers and care products. Comparable to HJE in retail channel presence and fertilizer product focus, but differentiated by organic/natural positioning—an emerging threat as consumer preferences shift toward greener alternatives.
- Safer Brand: Brand of natural and organic pest control and lawn care products for retail consumers. Comparable to HJE's KnockOut line in pest control category and retail channel, but differentiated by natural/green positioning that increasingly resonates with consumer preferences.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Howard Johnson financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Howard Johnson leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Howard Johnson funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Howard Johnson 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 Howard Johnson
What does Howard Johnson do?
Howard Johnson's Enterprises manufactures and sells turf fertilizers, ice and snow melters, and insect/weed control products. The company produces three main product categories: (1) Professional turf products (Pre-Emergent, Post-Emergent, Golf Course/Turf & Ornamental, Insect Control, and Granular Fungicide) for golf courses and commercial turf management; (2) Retail fertilizers and KnockOut insect/weed control products for residential lawn and garden care; and (3) Ice and snow melters (Zero Ice and Pet-Guard) for both retail and professional customers.
Is Howard Johnson a public or private company?
Howard Johnson is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Howard Johnson founded?
Howard Johnson was founded in 1962. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Howard Johnson based?
Howard Johnson is headquartered in Neosho, United States, in the North America region.
How does Howard Johnson make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Turf Products are the primary driver. The others are retail Consumer Products and ice & Snow Melts.
Who are Howard Johnson's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, The Andersons, Inc., SiteOne Landscape Supply, J.R. Simplot Company and Central Garden & Pet Company. Direct peers are Lebanon Seaboard Corporation, Bonide Products and AMVAC Chemical Corporation. Emerging players are Espoma Organic and Safer Brand.
Does Howard Johnson have an API?
No public API is recorded for Howard Johnson.
What industry is Howard Johnson in?
Howard Johnson's product category is Turf and Lawn Care Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAIAD, Turf Care (Fertilization, Aeration & Weed/Pest Control), with a secondary code of CRAIAIAC, Soils, Mulch, Fertilizers & Lawn Care Chemicals Retail. Its NAICS code is 3253 and its SIC code is 2870.