Medford Cooperative

What Medford Cooperative does

Medford Cooperative is a member-owned farmers' cooperative founded on March 31, 1911, headquartered in Medford, Wisconsin, and one of the oldest cooperatives in the state. It operates across three integrated divisions: Agriculture (crop nutrients, crop protection, seed treatment, animal nutrition including custom feed blending and dairy production consulting, and grain services as a Certified Grain Warehouse Dealer with CHS Hedging integration), Retail (three County Market grocery stores including Camp's Fresh Market and A-F County Market, four Cenex/Clark-branded convenience stores, and two ACE Hardware locations), and Energy (propane delivery across a 12,000 square mile territory with multiple pricing programs, refined fuels under the Cenex brand, Cenex lubricants, and a Cenex convenience store conversion service for third parties).

The cooperative employs 251–500 people and runs a patron/membership revenue model where customers become member-owners and are eligible for annual cash and stock patronage returns once annual purchases exceed $1,000. Underlying technology includes the AgVantage Software customer account management platform, a computerized degree-day propane delivery scheduling system, the CHS Hedging grain marketing integration, and proprietary feed formulations such as the Medford Cooperative Calf Starter and Grower Feed. A wholly-owned IT subsidiary, Norfinity IT Solutions, provides external technology services.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through physical retail locations and direct energy delivery, supplemented by word-of-mouth and community referrals (including a $50 propane referral credit). Customer segments are diversified across agricultural producers, residential and commercial energy consumers, and general household members. The cooperative is led by General Manager/CEO Erin Peterson, with Senior Directors Dave Mayville (Ag & Energy Services) and Joe Tazelaar (Finance & HR), and a member-elected Board of Directors. Over the past decade the cooperative has returned more than $17 million to members in patronage distributions, including $2 million in 2020, and has donated more than $225,000 to over 500 community causes in the past five years through the Medford Cooperative Cares program.

Name

Medford Cooperative

Legal name

Medford Cooperative

Website

https://medfordcoop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Medford Cooperative is a member-owned farmers' cooperative founded in 1911 in Wisconsin, operating across agriculture (agronomy, feed, grain), retail (grocery, convenience, hardware stores), and energy (propane, fuels, lubricants) divisions serving rural communities across a 12,000-square-mile territory with a patronage-based membership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farmers Cooperative (Retail, Energy, and Agriculture)

NAICS

Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42491), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmer Cooperatives & Co-op Retail (AFABAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Member-Owned Food Cooperatives (CRAHALAA), Food Co-ops with In-Store Prepared Foods & Deli (CRAHALAF)

Keywords

• Farmers cooperative services
• Agronomy crop nutrients
• Propane fuel delivery
• Rural retail grocery
• Animal nutrition feed

Headquarters

HQ city

Medford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales (Grocery, Convenience, Hardware): Revenue from sales at three grocery stores (County Market locations), four convenience stores (Cenex/Clark branded), and two ACE Hardware stores. Includes bakery, deli, floral, meat, produce, liquor departments, and general merchandise.
2. Agricultural Products and Services: Crop nutrients, crop protection chemicals, seed treatment and sales, animal nutrition/feed products, custom feed blending, grain drying and storage services. Revenue from product sales and service fees.
3. Energy Products (Propane, Refined Fuels, Lubricants): Propane delivery and tank leasing, refined fuels (diesel, gasoline) sales, Cenex lubricants. Includes budget payment programs, prepay programs, and scheduled delivery options. Minimum 200 gallon delivery requirement for propane.
4. Patronage Returns: Annual distribution of profits to members. Percentage calculated based on member purchases and company profits. Returned as combination of cash and stock. Requires $1,000+ total annual purchases to qualify.
5. Grain Services: Grain drying, storage, and contracting services. CHS Hedging platform for grain marketing. Certified Grain Warehouse Dealer status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Medford Cooperative is a member-owned farmers' cooperative that sells agricultural inputs and services (crop nutrients, crop protection, seed, animal nutrition, grain services), retail goods through grocery, convenience, and ACE Hardware stores, and energy products including propane delivery, refined fuels, and Cenex lubricants across northern Wisconsin. It operates 9 physical retail locations plus direct delivery services across a 12,000 square mile service territory, returning profits to members annually through a patronage program tied to a $1,000 annual purchase threshold.

Product overview

Medford Cooperative is a diversified farmers' cooperative founded in 1911 that operates as a single unified organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services across three main divisions: Retail (grocery stores, convenience stores, and hardware stores), Energy (refined fuels, propane, lubricants, and convenience store conversions), and Agriculture (crop nutrients, crop protection, seed, animal nutrition, and grain services). The cooperative operates multiple branded locations including County Market grocery stores, Cenex/Clark convenience stores, and ACE Hardware stores throughout Wisconsin, while also providing patron rewards and cash-back programs based on annual purchases exceeding $1,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cenex: Convenience store brand and fuel brand partnership for convenience stores and refined fuels
• Ace Hardware
• Medford Cooperative Cares
• County Market
• Blooms Floral Design

Products and services

• Propane Delivery Propane delivery service with multiple program options including Budget Payment (11 monthly payments locking heating-season price), Prepay (fixed-price contract), Scheduled Delivery, and Will Call programs. Minimum 200-gallon delivery, 12,000 square mile service territory. For residential and commercial heating/cooking customers.
• Refined Fuels (Cenex) Premium Cenex-brand refined fuels including Ruby Fieldmaster and Roadmaster XL diesel products, supplied and delivered throughout northern Wisconsin to farms, businesses, and homes. Cenex Total Protection Plan applicable.
• Cenex Lubricants Industrial Cenex lubricants with enhanced technology for engine protection, addressing high-temperature issues, cold-weather start-up, and extended engine life. Sold by Medford Cooperative as an authorized Cenex lubricants dealer.
• Cenex Convenience Store Conversions Program assisting operators in converting existing convenience stores to the Cenex brand, providing marketing support, brand strength, payment solutions, and dependable fuel supply.
• County Market Grocery Stores Full-service community-owned grocery stores offering produce, meat, bakery, deli, floral (Blooms), and the area's largest liquor supply (Black River Spirits). Locations in Medford, Adams-Friendship, and St. Germain (Camp's Fresh Market).
• Convenience Stores (Cenex/Clark) Four convenience stores in Medford, Phillips, Rib Lake (Cenex-branded), and Stetsonville (Clark-branded) offering Cenex fuel, Hunt Brothers Pizza, fresh bakery items, liquor, and convenience products.
• ACE Hardware Stores Two ACE Hardware store locations in Medford and Tomahawk offering hardware products, propane tank filling, glass repair, key cutting, paint matching, knife sharpening, and online ordering support.
• Crop Nutrients / Agronomy Fertilizer planning and recommendations including custom application, nitrogen stabilizers, soil testing, grid-sampling, tissue testing, VRT spreading, and nutrient management plans for crop producers.
• Crop Protection Custom application and chemical programs for plant protection including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and adjuvants, supported by trained agronomists.
• Seed Treatment Seed selection, hybrid placement, and customized seed treatment programs. Carries seed brands including Croplan, Dekalb, Syngenta, Mycogen, Wolf River Valley Seeds, La Crosse Seed, and Legacy Seed.
• Animal Nutrition Animal nutrition solutions including custom feed blending, dairy production consulting, bulk feed delivery, proprietary Medford Cooperative calf starter and grower feeds, forage sampling, and commodity contracting. Product lines include Big Gain, Purina Mills, Quality Liquid Feeds, Diamond V Mills, and Exclusive/Infinia pet foods.
• Grain Services Grain drying, storage, contracting, and marketing services as a Certified Grain Warehouse Dealer. Includes access to CHS Hedging for grain cash bid updates and hedging capabilities.
• Grain Cash Bids Online grain cash bid information service allowing farmers to view current grain pricing from Medford Cooperative.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2 million returned to customers in patronage distributions in 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Norfinity IT SolutionssupportingTechnology or IntegrationExternal IT solutions provider linked from Medford Cooperative website. Provides technology services to support cooperative operations.
• CHS HedgingcoreTechnology or IntegrationGrain marketing and hedging platform integrated into Medford Cooperative's grain services. Provides grain cash bid updates and hedging capabilities for customers.
• Big GainsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnimal feed product line carried by Medford Cooperative animal nutrition division
• Purina MillssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnimal feed and pet food product lines including exclusive pet food and Infinia pet food sold through Medford Cooperative
• Quality Liquid FeedssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiquid feed supplement products distributed through Medford Cooperative animal nutrition services
• Diamond V MillssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNutritional health products for animals distributed through Medford Cooperative
• Rock River LabssupportingTechnology or IntegrationLaboratory testing services for forage and feed analysis supporting Medford Cooperative's animal nutrition recommendations
• ADM Alliance NutritionsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnimal nutrition products distributed through Medford Cooperative feed services
• CroplansupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed product line including seed treatments and grain protectants sold through Medford Cooperative agriculture division
• DekalbsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorn seed varieties and seed finder tools available through Medford Cooperative seed program
• SyngentasupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed products for corn and other crops distributed through Medford Cooperative agriculture services
• MycogensupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorn seed varieties available through Medford Cooperative seed selection program
• Wolf River Valley SeedssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal seed varieties available through Medford Cooperative
• La Crosse SeedsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed products distributed through Medford Cooperative agriculture division
• Legacy SeedsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed varieties available through Medford Cooperative seed program
• Cenex (brand for lubricants)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCenex industrial lubricants with enhanced technology for engine protection. Medford Cooperative is authorized Cenex dealer for lubricants.
• Cenex (brand for fuels)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium Cenex fuels (Ruby Fieldmaster, Roadmaster XL diesel) distributed by Medford Cooperative. Cenex Total Protection Plan applicable.
• Cenex (convenience store conversions)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMedford Cooperative assists with Cenex convenience store conversions. Offers marketing, brand strength, dependable supply, payment solutions, and superior products for prospective Cenex operators.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Premier Cooperative: Wisconsin farmer cooperative operating agronomy, grain, energy, and feed divisions. Direct peer in geography, scale, and multi-division cooperative model.
• Growmark: Midwest farmer cooperative system providing agronomy, energy, and grain services across multiple states. Comparable in operating model, member ownership, and agricultural input/service focus, though significantly larger.
• United Cooperative: Wisconsin-based farmer cooperative offering agronomy, feed, grain, energy, and retail services. Highly comparable in scale, geographic overlap, and multi-division model to Medford Cooperative.
• ACE Hardware: Hardware retailer cooperatively owned by independent ACE dealers; Medford operates two ACE stores. Comparable as a retailer cooperative model with similar member economics and patronage-style profit distribution.
• CHS Inc. CHS Inc. is the largest U.S. farmer-owned cooperative and parent of the Cenex brand that Medford distributes; operates ag inputs, grain, energy, and food businesses. Most directly comparable as a diversified ag cooperative using the same Cenex fuel/lubricant brand.
• River Country Cooperative: Wisconsin-based farmer cooperative offering agronomy, grain, energy, and feed services in a similar northern Wisconsin market. Closely comparable in scale, scope, and regional footprint.

Others

• Cooperative Network: Regional trade association representing cooperatives in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Comparable as the industry/advocacy ecosystem for Medford's cooperative business model.
• Dairyland Power Cooperative: Wisconsin member-owned electric cooperative serving rural communities in the same territory. Comparable in cooperative ownership structure and rural Wisconsin customer base, though in a different industry.

Regional players

• Frontier Ag & Trading: Regional ag input and grain trading company operating in the upper Midwest. Comparable in ag inputs and grain services but operates as a privately-held company rather than a cooperative.

Broad incumbents

• Land O'Lakes: Large U.S. farmer-owned cooperative with dairy foods, animal nutrition, and crop inputs (WinField United). Comparable in cooperative ownership and ag services, but vastly larger scale and broader national footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/medfordcooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Medford Cooperative