Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers is a producer-owned cooperative founded in 1918 and the only wool-marketing organization in Canada owned directly by sheep producers. It operates wool grading services, collection depots, and 7 retail farm supply stores across 5 provinces.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1918
- HeadquartersCarleton Place, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers does
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers (CCWG) is a producer-owned cooperative founded in 1918 and headquartered in Carleton Place, Ontario. It is the only wool-marketing organization in Canada owned directly by sheep producers, serving Canadian sheep farmers through wool collection depots, wool grading services, and a network of farm supply retail stores. The cooperative operates 7 retail locations across 5 provinces under the Premier Choix and Total Farm Supply banners, providing livestock equipment, farm supplies, and wool products to its members and the broader agricultural community.
CCWG generates revenue through three primary streams: commission-based wool marketing fees (paid on aggregated wool sales into international markets), retail farm supply sales through its physical store network, and an emerging wool pellet distribution line introduced in partnership with Wild Valley Farms in April 2024. Its core technical operation is wool grading and sorting — a service that classifies fleece by fiber diameter, length, and quality to determine market value and direct wool to appropriate end buyers. By aggregating wool from hundreds of individual producers, CCWG achieves the scale necessary to access international textile buyers that no single Canadian sheep producer could reach independently.
The cooperative expanded its retail footprint in 2023 through the acquisition of Total Farm Supply Ltd, extending member services beyond wool marketing. In April 2024, it partnered with Wild Valley Farms to distribute wool pellets — a sustainable soil amendment product — representing a vertical extension of the wool value chain into circular-economy agriculture inputs. The organization is governed by a producer-elected board, with Morgan Moore currently serving as President of the Board and Acting General Manager following the December 2025 retirement of long-tenured executive Nancy Mallinson.
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers
- Legal name
- Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited
- Website
- https://wool.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1918
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers is a producer-owned cooperative founded in 1918 and the only wool-marketing organization in Canada owned directly by sheep producers. It operates wool grading services, collection depots, and 7 retail farm supply stores across 5 provinces.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wool Marketing and Agricultural Cooperative Services
- NAICS
- Sheep Farming (11241), Other Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers (424590), Animal Production and Aquaculture (112)
- SIC
- Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wool & Fiber Production (Shearing, Sorting, On-Farm Grading) (AFAEAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)
Keywords
Where Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carleton Place
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Wool Marketing Services: CCWG markets Canadian wool on behalf of producer-shareholders through structured marketing, professional grading, and transparent processes. Producers deliver wool to depots and are paid via final payment, outright purchase, or forward contract models. Proceeds are returned to growers.
- Retail Store Sales: CCWG operates multiple retail stores across Canada selling livestock supplies, sheep equipment, and equestrian products. Stores are branded under CCWG Livestock Supplies and Premier Choix Agricole (Quebec).
- Wool Garden Pellets: CCWG serves as Canadian distributor for Wild Valley Farms wool pellets, a fertilizer product made 100% from raw wool. Sold through CCWG retail stores and online at realwoolshop.ca.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers (CCWG) is a producer-owned cooperative that markets Canadian wool on behalf of sheep-producer shareholders through structured marketing, professional grading, and transparent processes. The cooperative operates a national network of wool collection depots, multiple retail stores (CCWG Livestock Supplies) selling livestock and equestrian supplies, the Real Wool Shop specialty retail outlet, and distributes wool garden pellets in partnership with Wild Valley Farms.
Product overview
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited (CCWG) is a producer-owned cooperative that serves as Canada's only wool-marketing organization owned directly by sheep producers. The company operates a structured wool marketing system with professional grading services, managing a network of wool collection depots across Canada. CCWG's product portfolio includes wool marketing and grading services (core offering), retail stores selling livestock supplies and equestrian products, the Real Wool Shop specialty retail outlet, and wool garden pellets (a partnership product with Wild Valley Farms). The cooperative also provides a breeders directory connecting livestock and fiber animal breeders with buyers, and offers education programs including sheep shearing courses and wool handling seminars. Revenue is generated through wool marketing fees, retail store sales, and product distribution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wool Marketing Services Structured wool marketing service for Canadian sheep producers that includes professional grading, accountable processes, and objective measurement of yield, micron, and vegetable matter percentage. Wool is core tested to generate certificates used as a marketing tool for prospective buyers, and producers are paid via final payment, outright purchase, or forward contract models. Proceeds are returned to growers.
- Wool Collection Depots Network of wool collection depots across Canada where sheep producer-shareholders deliver raw wool for grading, objective measurement, core testing, and subsequent marketing to domestic and global buyers.
- Wool Garden Pellets Sheep wool pellet fertilizer made 100% from raw wool. Reduces watering needs and creates porosity in the root zone. Marketed under Wild Valley Farms branded Wool Pellets with CCWG logo, distributed by CCWG across Canada through retail stores and online at realwoolshop.ca.
- Retail Stores (CCWG Livestock Supplies) Physical retail storefronts selling livestock supplies, sheep equipment, animal health products, fencing, and equestrian products. Locations include Carleton Place ON, Cookstown ON, Kitchener/Waterloo ON, Brandon MB, Lethbridge AB, and Saint-Hyacinthe QC (operated under Premier Choix Agricole brand in Quebec).
- Real Wool Shop Specialty retail store and online e-commerce storefront at realwoolshop.ca dedicated to wool products and merchandise for consumers and fiber enthusiasts.
- Breeders Directory Online national directory connecting buyers with Canadian breeders of sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas, and working dogs. Includes breed information, breeder contact details, and breed characteristics.
- Education and Training Courses Educational programs including sheep shearing courses, wool handling seminars, and wool judging courses designed for sheep producers and fiber enthusiasts.
Companies that use Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wild Valley FarmscoreCCWG and Wild Valley Farms (Croydon, Utah) entered a collaboration to market Canadian wool as wool pellet fertilizer. CCWG became the Canadian distributor for Wild Valley Farms wool pellets, which are made 100% from raw wool and are the only fertilizer that reduces watering needs while creating porosity in the root zone. Products are marketed under the Wild Valley Farms branded Wool Pellets in the North American marketplace and carry the CCWG logo. The partnership aims to increase the value and profitability of sheep farmers by utilizing waste wool for home, garden, and environmental improvement.
- The Campaign For WoolminorCCWG participates in the global Campaign For Wool initiative, which promotes wool as a natural and sustainable fiber. CCWG links to the campaign's website to support wool education and awareness.
- Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF)minorCCWG is involved in the national sheep traceability system. As of June 3, 2025, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the Canadian Sheep Federation is eligible to move forward as the next Responsible Administrator (RA) for national sheep traceability under Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations. The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) continues to deliver traceability programming throughout the transition period.
- Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA)minorCCIA administers the Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP). Under Canadian law, CCWG is required to collect and disclose personal information and purchase information relating to national identification ear tags under CSIP to CCIA, CFIA, and applicable Provincial Sheep Associations.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Nutrien Ag Solutions: Largest crop input retailer in North America, with livestock services and wool-clip handling in some regions. Comparable retail distribution scale in Canadian agricultural markets but a much broader input offering.
- Growmark: Large North American agricultural cooperative providing farm inputs, crop protection, and livestock supplies. Comparable cooperative governance and Canadian retail presence, but much broader product portfolio.
- United Farmers of Alberta (UFA): Canadian agricultural cooperative operating retail farm supply stores across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Comparable Canadian cooperative retail model serving livestock producers, though broader in scope than wool-specific CCWG.
Direct peers
- Australian Wool Innovation (AWI): Australian research, development, and marketing body for the Australian wool industry. Direct global peer in wool marketing, grading, and producer services, though much larger in scale.
- Cape Wools SA: South African wool industry body that promotes, grades, and markets South African wool internationally. Comparable to CCWG in its wool-marketing intermediary role for domestic sheep producers.
- British Wool: UK-based producer-owned cooperative that collects, grades, and markets wool on behalf of British sheep farmers. Direct structural analog to CCWG with the same cooperative collection, grading, and marketing model.
Others
- Wild Valley Farms: Utah-based manufacturer of wool pellet fertilizer. Strategic supplier/partner to CCWG under the 2024 distribution agreement, and adjacent to CCWG's downstream wool utilization strategy.
Emerging players
- Premier 1 Supplies: US-based direct-to-farm livestock supplies retailer specializing in sheep and goat equipment. Comparable retail product category (sheep equipment, livestock supplies) but operating in a different geography and without the wool marketing component.
Regional players
- New Zealand Merino Company: New Zealand-based wool marketing company specializing in Merino wool contracts with global apparel brands. Comparable wool-marketing intermediary model but focused on premium contracts rather than cooperative pooling.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers social profiles
Digital presenceCanadian Co-operative Wool Growers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers 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 Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers
What does Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers do?
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers (CCWG) is a producer-owned cooperative that markets Canadian wool on behalf of sheep-producer shareholders through structured marketing, professional grading, and transparent processes. The cooperative operates a national network of wool collection depots, multiple retail stores (CCWG Livestock Supplies) selling livestock and equestrian supplies, the Real Wool Shop specialty retail outlet, and distributes wool garden pellets in partnership with Wild Valley Farms.
Is Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers a public or private company?
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers founded?
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers was founded in 1918. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers based?
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers is headquartered in Carleton Place, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Wool Marketing Services are the primary driver. The others are retail Store Sales and wool Garden Pellets.
Who are Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Nutrien Ag Solutions, Growmark and United Farmers of Alberta (UFA). Direct peers are Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), Cape Wools SA and British Wool. Wild Valley Farms is listed as an others. Premier 1 Supplies is listed as an emerging player. New Zealand Merino Company is listed as a regional player.
Does Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers.
What industry is Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers in?
Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers's product category is Wool Marketing and Agricultural Cooperative Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAFAD, Wool & Fiber Production (Shearing, Sorting, On-Farm Grading), with a secondary code of BPAGALAL, Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support). Its NAICS code is 11241 and its SIC code is 200.