Clesens
Clesens is a privately held B2B distributor of commercial fertilizer, plant health products, grass seed, irrigation equipment, Kress robotic mowers, and ice melters serving golf courses, sports turf facilities, lawn care operators, landscape contractors, and arborists across six Midwestern U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersLincolnshire, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Clesens does
Clesens (legal name Arthur Clesen Inc.) is a privately held B2B specialty distributor serving the professional green industry across six Midwestern U.S. states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, the company operates four warehouse and distribution locations in Lincolnshire IL, Germantown WI, Mokena IL, and Edina MN. It distributes commercial fertilizer (granular, liquid, and soluble), plant protection products (fungicides, insecticides, herbicides), plant growth regulators, wetting agents, grass seed, amendments, ice melters, capillary concrete, and irrigation systems and components. Beyond consumables, it distributes Kress robotic mowers featuring RTKn satellite navigation technology and related outdoor power equipment. Clesens also owns the Molasses Kings proprietary fertilizer brand, comprising three blended liquid plant and soil microbial products (The Sweet Heat 0-0-2, The MOJO 10-0-2, and The Sea Sugar 1-0-1), and offers irrigation service, repair, and maintenance work alongside product distribution. The company is certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) by the City of Chicago, which supports government-contract sales channels.
Clesens' go-to-market is sales-led and consultative, executed by a team that is described as composed primarily of former golf course superintendents who provide direct agronomic advisory to customers. The company reaches its customer base through direct sales relationships, professional association sponsorships (including premier sponsorship of the Wisconsin Sports Turf Managers Association), a product-catalog website, and manufacturer-funded Early Order Programs (EOPs) under which it passes rebates, extended payment terms, and rewards to buyers purchasing ahead of the agronomic season. Its manufacturing partner portfolio spans at least 15 brands, including Syngenta, Corteva, Envu, Nufarm, The Andersons, SePRO, Lebanon Turf, AMGUARD, Aquatrols, Rain Bird, Kress, Arborjet, Quali-Pro, Albaugh, PBI-Gordon, and Prokoz.
Clesens serves four primary end markets: golf course superintendents, sports turf and athletic field managers (including school districts, park departments, collegiate athletic complexes, and professional sports facilities), lawn care operators and landscape contractors, and arborists. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of distributed commercial-grade products, supplemented by irrigation service work and the company's proprietary Molasses Kings product line. Financial information is not publicly disclosed; the company appears bootstrapped and privately held, with no documented venture capital, private equity, or institutional ownership.
Clesens firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Clesens
- Legal name
- Arthur Clesen Inc.
- Website
- https://clesens.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Clesens is a privately held B2B distributor of commercial fertilizer, plant health products, grass seed, irrigation equipment, Kress robotic mowers, and ice melters serving golf courses, sports turf facilities, lawn care operators, landscape contractors, and arborists across six Midwestern U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Clesens is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lincolnshire
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Clesens business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commercial Product Distribution: Clesens generates revenue through distribution of commercial-grade green industry products including fertilizer, plant health products, grass seed, irrigation components, ice melters, robotic mowers, and outdoor power equipment to professional end-users.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Clesens product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Clesens is a wholesale distributor of commercial fertilizer, plant health products, grass seed, irrigation equipment, ice melters, robotic mowers, battery-operated outdoor power equipment, and turf and ornamental (T&O) supplies. The company serves green-industry professionals across six Midwestern states through warehouses in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, offering both third-party brands and proprietary products such as Molasses Kings fertilizers.
Product overview
Clesens is a distributor of commercial fertilizer, plant health products, grass seed, irrigation equipment, ice melters, robotic mowers, battery operated outdoor power equipment, T&O (Turf & Ornamental) supplies, and irrigation components to green industry professionals in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The company operates through a multi-product portfolio architecture consisting of: (1) core product categories including Irrigation, Fertilizers (Granular, Liquid & Soluble), Plant Protection (Fungicides, Insecticides, Herbicides), Plant Growth Regulators, Wetting Agents, Grass Seed, Aquatics, and Amendments; (2) specialized equipment brands including Kress Robotic Mowers (featuring RTKn satellite positioning technology and the Voyager sub-line) and Kress Outdoor Power Equipment; (3) proprietary branded fertilizers under the Molasses Kings brand (The Sweet Heat 0-0-2, The MOJO 10-0-2, The Sea Sugar 1-0-1); (4) irrigation service capabilities including pump station service, wire solutions, and satellite box maintenance; and (5) Early Order Programs facilitating rebates and rewards from manufacturer partners. The company serves three primary market segments: Golf courses, Sports Turf/Athletic Fields, and Lawn/Landscape/Arborist professionals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Molasses Kings: Brand of blended liquid plant fertilizers and soil microbiology nutrition sources derived from sugar cane molasses, including products like The Sweet Heat (0-0-2), The MOJO (10-0-2), and The Sea Sugar (1-0-1).
Products and services
- Commercial Fertilizer
- Plant Health Products
Companies that use Clesens
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Clesens technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Clesens partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, standard and minor.
- SyngentacoreSyngenta is a major manufacturer of turf and ornamental products. Clesens participates in Syngenta's Early Order Programs including Prepare Now Pay Later with Extended Terms, MultiPak Offers, Pallet Offers, and GreenTrust 365 rewards program. The partnership enables Clesens to offer Syngenta products to golf and lawn care customers.
- Corteva AgrisciencecoreCorteva is a major agricultural sciences company. Clesens participates in Corteva's Ultimate Rewards program for turf and ornamentals, offering products to golf and turf customers.
- EnvucoreEnvu (formerly Bayer Environmental Science/Syngenta Professional Solutions) provides specialized turf management products. Clesens distributes Envu's NOW Solutions products for golf and lawn care through Early Order Programs.
- NufarmcoreNufarm is a global crop protection company. Clesens participates in Nufarm Edge Rewards program and offers Snow Mold Programs and other turf products through EOP.
- KresscoreKress is a brand of robotic mowers and outdoor power equipment. Clesens is a distributor of Kress products including RTKn robotic mowers, Voyager series, and outdoor power equipment. Clesens offers Kress Mega Mower Fall Savings Events and other promotional programs.
- The AndersonsstandardThe Andersons produces professional turf and horticultural products. Clesens participates in Andersons A+ Rewards Program through Early Order Programs.
- SePROstandardSePRO is a specialty chemical and plant health company. Clesens participates in SePRO's Turf Pinnacle Program for golf and turf customers.
- Lebanon TurfstandardLebanon Turf manufactures professional turf fertilizers. Clesens participates in Lebanon's Growing Together Program through EOP.
- AMGUARD Environmental TechnologiesstandardAMGUARD provides turf protection products. Clesens offers AMGUARD EOP programs including Turfcide 400 snow mold fungicide products.
- AquatrolsstandardAquatrols produces turf wetting agents and water management products. Clesens distributes Aquatrols products through The Company Approach EOP program.
- ArborjetminorArborjet provides tree injection and arborist products. Clesens participates in ArborJet/Ecologel Early Order Programs.
- Quali-ProminorQuali-Pro produces professional pest management products. Clesens offers Quali-Pro Simply Grow Together EOP program.
- AlbaughminorAlbaugh produces specialty crop protection products. Clesens participates in Albaugh Specialty Advantage Rewards Program.
- PBI-GordonminorPBI-Gordon produces professional turf and ornamental products. Clesens participates in Green Dividends EOP program.
- Rain BirdcoreRain Bird is a major irrigation equipment manufacturer. Clesens distributes Rain Bird irrigation products and promotes Rain Bird on their homepage.
- ProkozstandardProkoz is a turf management products brand. Clesens displays Prokoz branding indicating a distribution relationship.
- City of ChicagostandardArthur Clesen Inc. is certified as a Women's Business Enterprise by the City of Chicago. This certification enables customers to fulfill WBE requirements on government contracts when purchasing products from Clesens.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Clesens competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wilbur-Ellis: Specialty chemicals and agricultural products distributor with a dedicated turf and ornamental division. Comparable product mix in fertilizer, plant protection, and turf solutions, distributed to professional end-users in adjacent geographies.
- Nutrien Ag Solutions: World's largest agricultural inputs retailer offering fertilizer, crop protection chemicals, and seed. Touches adjacent categories to Clesens with much greater scale, capital base, and direct competitive overlap in commercial fertilizer distribution.
- SiteOne Landscape Supply: Largest national distributor of landscape supplies, irrigation, agronomic products, and outdoor lighting to professional contractors. Public company with overlapping product categories and customer base to Clesens, but vastly larger scale, broader geography, and growing M&A footprint in the turf and ornamental space.
- Helena Agri-Enterprises: Major U.S. distributor of agricultural inputs, specialty fertilizers, and turf and ornamental products. Comparable distribution-led business model with overlap in fertilizer, plant protection, and specialty turf lines, operating across broader geographies than Clesens.
Emerging players
- WinField United (Land O'Lakes): Retail agricultural solutions arm of Land O'Lakes offering crop inputs, seed, and professional turf products through a network of retailers. Overlapping customer base in professional turf and complementary product portfolio, with growing focus on the green industry.
Direct peers
- Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply: Wholesale distributor of irrigation, landscape, turf, and golf-course supplies across the U.S. Highly comparable product portfolio to Clesens (irrigation systems, fertilizers, chemicals, equipment) and overlapping customer segments in golf, sports turf, and lawn care. Operates at significantly larger scale.
- Simplot Partners (J.R. Simplot): Distributor of turf, ornamental, and specialty agricultural products serving golf courses, sports turf, and lawn-care professionals. Direct product portfolio and customer overlap with Clesens; broader geographic footprint and access to vertically integrated fertilizer manufacturing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Clesens social profiles
Digital presenceClesens compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Clesens financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Clesens leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Clesens funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Clesens 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 Clesens
What does Clesens do?
Clesens is a wholesale distributor of commercial fertilizer, plant health products, grass seed, irrigation equipment, ice melters, robotic mowers, battery-operated outdoor power equipment, and turf and ornamental (T&O) supplies. The company serves green-industry professionals across six Midwestern states through warehouses in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, offering both third-party brands and proprietary products such as Molasses Kings fertilizers.
Is Clesens a public or private company?
Clesens is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Clesens founded?
Clesens was founded in 1961. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Clesens based?
Clesens is headquartered in Lincolnshire, United States, in the North America region.
How does Clesens make money?
One revenue line is on record: commercial Product Distribution.
Who are Clesens's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wilbur-Ellis, Nutrien Ag Solutions, SiteOne Landscape Supply and Helena Agri-Enterprises. WinField United (Land O'Lakes) is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply and Simplot Partners (J.R. Simplot).
Does Clesens have an API?
No public API is recorded for Clesens.