Ferrellgas
Ferrellgas is one of the largest U.S. propane distributors, delivering over 750 million gallons annually to residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers across all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico, including through its Blue Rhino retail exchange brand.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1939
- HeadquartersOverland Park, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ferrellgas does
Ferrellgas is one of the largest retail propane distributors in the United States, operating a nationwide network that delivers over 750 million gallons of propane annually to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Founded in 1939 in Atchison, Kansas as the A.C. Ferrell Butane Gas Company and now headquartered in Liberty, Missouri as a publicly-traded Master Limited Partnership, the company runs hundreds of local offices and one of the largest transportation fleets in the retail propane industry, complemented by the Blue Rhino sub-brand for retail propane tank exchange acquired in 2004.
The core product is Ferrellgas Propane Services, organized around vertical-specific solutions (home heating, propane appliances and generators, commercial heating, forklifts, construction, autogas buses and fleets, national accounts, and agricultural applications such as crop drying, irrigation, greenhouse heating, and livestock sanitation). Service-plan add-ons include Auto Fill (automatic delivery), Digital Tank Monitoring (real-time tank level tracking through MyFerrellgas), Will Call (customer-initiated ordering), Ferrell Platinum Plus (price-protection program), and Propane Tank Installation. Underlying technology consists of Samsara-powered connected fleet operations for safety and logistics, a customer-facing digital portal, and online quote/ordering tools, with no public-facing APIs or developer platform.
Ferrellgas generates revenue primarily through usage-based propane distribution and sales, supplemented by recurring tank rental fees and a $50 customer referral credit program. Pricing is quote-based by location and consumption, and the company employs a direct-to-consumer go-to-market motion with local delivery augmented by an acquisition-led growth strategy that has absorbed over 300 propane businesses since 1967. Customer acquisition combines the wedeliver.ferrellgas.com quote funnel, referral incentives, content marketing via the Tank Talk blog, and active social/community engagement, while an Employee Stock Ownership Plan covers over 4,000 employee-owners who indirectly hold 1,138,812 partnership units.
Ferrellgas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ferrellgas
- Legal name
- Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
- Website
- https://ferrellgas.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1939
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Ferrellgas is one of the largest U.S. propane distributors, delivering over 750 million gallons annually to residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers across all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico, including through its Blue Rhino retail exchange brand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ferrellgas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Propane Distribution and Supply
- NAICS
- Fuel Dealers (457210), Fuel Dealers (45721), Fuel Dealers (4572)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bulk Fuel, Propane & Energy Supply for Farms (Retailer-Operated) (AFABAJAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Commercial & Fleet Fueling (Cardlock, On-Site Tanks, Bulk Delivery) (EUALAIAD)
Keywords
Where Ferrellgas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Overland Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ferrellgas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Propane Distribution and Sales: Core revenue from propane distribution and sales to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers across the United States, Puerto Rico, and District of Columbia.
- Propane Tank Rental: Revenue from renting propane tanks to customers, with associated maintenance and equipment upkeep included in rental fees.
- Referral Program Credits: Customer referral program where both referrer and referee receive $50 credits when a new customer completes their first qualifying delivery.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing varies by location and usage |
| Subscription | Monthly | Auto Fill program with automatic delivery based on tank monitoring |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ferrellgas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ferrellgas distributes and delivers propane gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers across all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Core offerings include propane delivery (Auto Fill automatic delivery, Will Call customer-initiated delivery, and Digital Tank Monitoring), propane tank installation, the Ferrell Platinum Plus price-protection program, and the Blue Rhino portable propane tank exchange brand for retail consumers.
Product overview
Ferrellgas is a propane distribution company offering a multi-layered portfolio centered on its core propane delivery and distribution services for residential, commercial, agricultural, and fleet customers across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The primary product is Ferrellgas Propane Services, supported by service-plan add-ons including Auto Fill (automatic delivery), Digital Tank Monitoring (real-time tank level tracking), Will Call (customer-initiated ordering), Ferrell Platinum Plus (price-protection program), and Propane Tank Installation. The sub-brand Blue Rhino handles retail propane tank exchange for portable cylinders, while MyFerrellgas provides the online account management portal and Ferrellgas Referrals offers a customer referral incentive program. The company operates at significant scale, supplying over 750 million gallons of propane annually through a nationwide supply network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Blue Rhino: Propane exchange brand for portable grill tanks and patio heaters, with millions of used propane tanks recycled annually.
Products and services
- Ferrellgas Propane Services
- Auto Fill
- Digital Tank Monitoring
- Will Call
- Ferrell Platinum Plus
- Propane Tank Installation
- Blue Rhino Propane Tank Exchange
- Ferrellgas Referrals
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 750 million gallons of propane distributed annually
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ferrellgas
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ferrellgas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Ferrellgas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and minor.
- Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)moderateMegan Sharp, VP of Operations Support at Ferrellgas, was appointed to PERC's leadership team as a councilor. PERC is the propane industry's research and education organization setting safety and efficiency standards.
- Operation WarmcoreKey charitable partner providing brand-new, high-quality coats and shoes for children in need. Ferrellgas supports Operation Warm as part of its Century Project social responsibility initiatives, with the partnership focusing on the whole child by providing physical warmth, emotional support, and confidence.
- Operation BBQ ReliefcoreOfficial propane partner of Operation BBQ Relief, feeding first responders and communities affected by natural disasters. Blue Rhino is the official propane exchange partner. Ferrellgas propane is delivered in the immediate aftermath of storms, fires, and other disasters to fuel OBR's cooking efforts.
- International Rhino FoundationminorCharitable partner focused on conservation of the five species of rhinoceros (White Rhino, Black Rhino, Indian Rhino, Javan Rhino, and Sumatran Rhino) in Africa and Asia. Links to the Blue Rhino brand identity.
- American Association of Zoo KeepersminorCharitable partner supporting rhino conservation efforts. Partnership aligns with Blue Rhino brand and provides habitat management support alongside rhino protection.
- RinnaiminorRinnai provides additional funding for qualified customers to offset costs of propane-fueled tankless water heaters and other heating products. Rinnai is the leading tankless water heater distributor in the United States.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ferrellgas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Suburban Propane Partners: Public MLP (NYSE:SPH) and one of the largest U.S. retail propane distributors, serving residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers with a similar multi-state footprint and tank-monitoring/Auto-Delivery services. The closest direct comp to Ferrellgas by business mix, scale, and customer segments.
- AmeriGas Partners / UGI Corporation: Largest U.S. retail propane distributor, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of UGI Corporation (NYSE:UGI). Direct head-to-head competitor with Ferrellgas in residential, commercial, and agricultural propane, with overlapping tank-exchange (AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange) and national-account programs.
- Star Group: Public fuel distribution company (NYSE:SGU) providing heating oil and propane to residential and commercial customers across the U.S. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Overlapping product (propane) and end-market (residential heating), with comparable tank-monitoring and auto-delivery service programs.
Regional players
- Global Partners LP: Northeast-focused midstream and retail energy distributor (NYSE:GLP) supplying gasoline, diesel, heating oil, and propane from terminals to retail and commercial customers. Comparable in propane distribution and bulk-fuel logistics, but more regionally concentrated than Ferrellgas.
Broad incumbents
- UGI Corporation: Diversified energy distributor (NYSE:UGI) owning AmeriGas Propane and operating natural gas and electric utilities in the U.S. and Europe. Comparable propane distribution business through AmeriGas, with additional scale and adjacent utility exposure that affects competitive dynamics.
- World Kinect (World Fuel Services): Global fuel and energy distributor (NYSE:WKC) supplying aviation, marine, and land transportation fuels, including LPG. Overlaps with Ferrellgas in commercial/industrial propane and LPG distribution but at a much larger global scale and broader customer set.
Others
- Crestwood Equity Partners: Midstream energy partnership (NYSE:CEQP) handling natural gas, NGL, and crude logistics. Adjacent to Ferrellgas in propane supply-chain — Ferrellgas sources propane from midstream processors like Crestwood — rather than direct retail competition.
- Inergy Midstream / Crestwood NGL Supply: Upstream/midstream NGL and propane logistics providers supplying propane to retail distributors like Ferrellgas. Adjacent rather than competing — relevant for understanding Ferrellgas's supply economics and the wholesale propane value chain.
Emerging players
- Clean Energy Fuels: Provider of CNG, LNG, and renewable natural gas for transportation fleets (Nasdaq:CLNE). Comparable to Ferrellgas's autogas bus and fleet business but focused on heavier-duty natural gas vehicles, positioning it as an adjacent competitor in fleet decarbonization solutions.
- Blossman Propane / Blossman Gas: Privately held regional propane distributor serving the Southeast U.S. with residential, commercial, and agricultural propane. Direct product-line and customer-segment overlap with Ferrellgas at smaller scale, illustrating the fragmented competitive landscape Ferrellgas continues to consolidate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ferrellgas social profiles
Digital presenceFerrellgas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ferrellgas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Ferrellgas subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Ferrellgas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ferrellgas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A47 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ferrellgas
What does Ferrellgas do?
Ferrellgas distributes and delivers propane gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers across all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Core offerings include propane delivery (Auto Fill automatic delivery, Will Call customer-initiated delivery, and Digital Tank Monitoring), propane tank installation, the Ferrell Platinum Plus price-protection program, and the Blue Rhino portable propane tank exchange brand for retail consumers.
Is Ferrellgas a public or private company?
Ferrellgas is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Ferrellgas founded?
Ferrellgas was founded in 1939. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Ferrellgas based?
Ferrellgas is headquartered in Overland Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ferrellgas make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Propane Distribution and Sales are the primary driver. The others are propane Tank Rental and referral Program Credits.
Who are Ferrellgas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Suburban Propane Partners, AmeriGas Partners / UGI Corporation and Star Group. Global Partners LP is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are UGI Corporation and World Kinect (World Fuel Services). Others are Crestwood Equity Partners and Inergy Midstream / Crestwood NGL Supply. Emerging players are Clean Energy Fuels and Blossman Propane / Blossman Gas.
Does Ferrellgas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ferrellgas.
What industry is Ferrellgas in?
Ferrellgas's product category is Propane Distribution and Supply. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFABAJAL, Bulk Fuel, Propane & Energy Supply for Farms (Retailer-Operated), with a secondary code of EUALAIAD, Commercial & Fleet Fueling (Cardlock, On-Site Tanks, Bulk Delivery). Its NAICS code is 457210 and its SIC code is 5171.