Ferrellgas

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.

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

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

• Propane distribution services
• Residential propane delivery
• Commercial propane supply
• Agricultural propane applications
• Portable propane exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

Overland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Propane Tank Rental: Revenue from renting propane tanks to customers, with associated maintenance and equipment upkeep included in rental fees.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and minor.

• Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Megan 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 WarmcoreOthersKey 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 ReliefcoreOthersOfficial 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 FoundationminorOthersCharitable 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 KeepersminorOthersCharitable partner supporting rhino conservation efforts. Partnership aligns with Blue Rhino brand and provides habitat management support alongside rhino protection.
• RinnaiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRinnai 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/Ferrellgas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVtdl9EGvFTNsklgwhn_X8w
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ferrellgas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/16710

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A47 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ferrellgas