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Bonnie Plants - The power of plants and well-placed partnerships - CoBank Site
The power of plants and well-placed partnerships
Bonnie Plants was founded in 1918 with a two-pound bag of cabbage seeds and $50 to its name. Over 100 years later, the Alabama-based company has grown into the largest vegetable and herb plant supplier in the country—operating more than 80 facilities across 43 states, while adapting to new technologies to maintain its growth and future success.
Bonnie Plants’ mission is simple: to enhance people’s lives through the power of plants. With over 300 varieties of vegetables and herbs in its product line—including tomatoes, peppers, basil, rosemary and lavender—the century-old company has an option for every consumer. Once ready, the plants are transported to major retailers like the Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Menards and Tractor Supply stores.
In 2016, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and Alabama Farmers Cooperative entered a partnership agreement, and they now jointly own Bonnie Plants. Following this partnership, it implemented an enterprise resource planning software—going from limited data insight to now receiving comprehensive reports on consumer trends. The new ERP system has also enhanced Bonnie Plants’ decision making, allowing the company to capitalize on new opportunities.
CoBank understood the challenges because they understand the business.
“We sell highly perishable products. Collecting this type of data provides better visibility into inventory and sales, and most importantly, reduces the number of unsold plant disposals,” said Mike Sutterer, president and CEO of Bonnie Plants. “This has led to smarter production and inventory decisions, but it didn’t come without obstacles. And we appreciate partners like CoBank that supported us through them.”
CoBank is Bonnie Plants’ largest lender and lead arranger. In 2023, the bank provided a $285 million credit facility to support the company’s capital expenditures and overall business operations—including the equipment used to facilitate the ERP system. Bonnie Plants also uses its Farm Credit Leasing program to purchase delivery vehicles and finance construction projects.
“Executing a new system was complex, but also an important business decision—even without immediate benefits. CoBank understood the challenges because they understand the business. Our relationship and history together truly matter to them,” Sutterer said.
CoBank and Bonnie Plants also partner at the community level through the bank’s Sharing Success program, an annual fund that matches $10,000 to local, charitable organizations chosen by the customer. Separately, CoBank makes an annual donation to the Bonnie Plants Foundation, which focuses on food insecurity by connecting gardeners with local food pantries. The foundation also supports education, including its third-grade cabbage program, which provides a curriculum and scholarships to each participating state.
“Having a reliable financial partner that stands by you through the good times and also the hardships is crucial to our success. We are truly stronger together,” Sutterer said.
