Latest news with #HalLawton
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Lowe's rival opening 90 stores by the end of this year
Tractor Supply Company is coming for Lowe's with a whopping new store count. The nation's largest rural lifestyle retailer is set to open 90 new locations by the end of the year. With these 90 stores, the number of Tractor Supply locations will rise to about 3,200 across 49 states. At least 18 of these new locations were former Big Lots stores, which the retailer bought during a last minute rescue deal after Big Lots filed for bankruptcy last year. A spokesperson told USA Today that those locations are strategically positioned in areas to serve the needs of farmers, animal owners, ranchers, gardeners, homeowners, and tradesmen. The openings also occurred just in time for Tractor Supply to launch its new Field & Stream-branded hunting and outdoor gear. The chain is also planning to open 10 new Petsense by Tractor Supply stores, crossing the 200 unit mark. As of now, the retailer has already opened 15 new stores in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia. The openings are part of Tractor Supply's 'Life Out Here' strategy, created to help with its growth. 'Over the last five years, we have delivered strong financial performance and enhanced our competitive advantages through the execution of our Life Out Here strategy,' said CEO Hal Lawton. 'Our Life Out Here 2030 strategy continues the momentum of our existing initiatives as well as launches new initiatives such as Pet Rx and Direct Sales.' Tractor Supply initiated the original plan in 2020, which featured a new store layout and remodeling program in half of its stores. It helped the chain land 22 million Neighbor's Club loyalty program members, open 13 distribution facilities, and increase sales by more than 300 percent. With its updates, the chain is now aiming to finish the year with $225 billion in revenue instead of its original $180 billion expectation. The chain started its goal off on a high note after delivering a 2.1 percent increase in first quarter scales amounting to $3.47 billion. The company said that new store openings and the contribution from Allivet pet pharmacy helped make its quarterly goal a reality. Some new locations are strategically positioned in areas to serve the needs of farmers, animal owners, ranchers, gardeners, homeowners, and tradesmen Tractor Supply backtracked on its DEI initiatives following 'disappointment' from its conservative customer base in 2024. Fans have been concerned over the future of home improvement stores long before fears of a looming recession. Home Depot and Lowe's both suffered significant sales drops last year amid high inflation. Home Depot bounced back with a 9.4 percent revenue during the first quarter of 2025 and confirmed there would be no major price changes this year from tariffs. Lowe's was not as lucky with a 1.7 percent revenue decrease, but it did earn the top spot in customer satisfaction among home improvement retailers by J.D. Power. As for Tractor Supply, the chain's abundance of baby chicks has given shoppers a solution on what to do during the egg shortage.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Tractor Supply Celebrates Hometown Heroes Anniversary With Its Largest-Ever Volunteer Event and $1 Million Donation
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, and the Tractor Supply Company Foundation announced today they are donating an additional $1 million in total to charity organizations committed to supporting our nation's military service members, veterans and first responders. The Company and its foundation made an initial $1 million donation in June 2024 to celebrate the launch of its Hometown Heroes initiative, which brings together the Company's efforts to support the selfless men and women who serve America under one banner. Tractor Supply launched the second year of its Hometown Heroes initiative yesterday with a Back-to-School Brigade® event in partnership with Operation Homefront, one of the program's 10 recipient organizations. More than 250 Team Members, as well as soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell and members of 4-H and FFA gathered at the Company's Store Support Center (SSC) to pack 500 backpacks with school supplies for military children—marking the largest volunteer event ever held by Tractor Supply. 'At Tractor Supply, support for our military service members, veterans, military families and first responders is entrenched in our culture and values,' said Colin Yankee, chief supply chain officer at Tractor Supply and former U.S. Army Captain. 'Many of our Team Members and customers have served our country or communities, and we're proud to stand with them. From charitable giving to hands-on volunteerism, we're committed to showing appreciation for our Hometown Heroes in meaningful ways.' Tractor Supply and the Tractor Supply Company Foundation have selected 10 nonprofit organizations to receive $100,000 each as part of this year's $1 million donation. They are: 9/11 Day: Inspires millions of Americans to volunteer, donate to charities and perform other good deeds and acts of kindness on September 11 to honor the memory of those killed or injured on 9/11. In addition to the $100,000 donation, Tractor Supply Team Members, including members of the Veterans Team Member Engagement Group, will gather on September 11, 2025, for a day of service. In 2024, more than 100 Team Members joined Tractor Supply President and CEO Hal Lawton to pack thousands of meals for Americans in need. Bob Woodruff Foundation: Invests in programs that help our service members, veterans, their families and caregivers thrive. Hometown Heroes funding supports the organization's grant-making, research, community-building and public education initiatives to ensure these individuals have stable and successful futures. Farmer Veteran Coalition: Provides micro grants to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching. Tractor Supply has partnered with FVC for the last seven years to assist farmer veterans from all branches of service. Through the joint initiative, the Company has provided more than 400 farmer veterans with Tractor Supply gift cards to access supplies, equipment and training to successfully launch their farm businesses. Folds of Honor: Provides educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders. K9s For Warriors: Fights veteran suicide by providing trained service dogs (many that are rescue animals) to military veterans suffering from PTSD and other traumas. Through this donation, Tractor Supply will sponsor three dogs—Scarlett on behalf of Tractor Supply, named after former Tractor Supply CEO Joe Scarlett; Murphy on behalf of Petsense by Tractor Supply, named after a heroic military veteran; and Rex (Rx) on behalf of Allivet by Tractor Supply. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation (NLEOMF): Honors fallen law enforcement officers, tells the story of American law enforcement and makes it safer for those who serve. In addition to supporting NLEOMF's work in remembering those who have lost their lives protecting our communities and providing best practices to help keep officers safe, Yankee represented Tractor Supply at the 2025 National Law Enforcement Memorial Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., paying tribute to fallen officers from across the country by reading their names aloud. National Police Dog Foundation: Raises funds for the purchase, training and veterinary care of law enforcement K-9s. Every October 28, National First Responders Day, Tractor Supply stores across the country host police dogs and their handlers for a celebratory demonstration. National Volunteer Firefighters Council: Provides critical resources, programs, education and advocacy for volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services across the nation. With the ability to balance volunteer firefighting with their work commitment, thousands of Tractor Supply Team Members serve as passionate and dedicated volunteer firefighters within their communities. Operation Homefront: Provides relief and recurring family support programs and services to help military families overcome short-term difficulties. Operation Homefront is one of Tractor Supply's newly selected Hometown Heroes donation recipients. Team Rubicon: Serves global communities before, during and after disasters and crises. Tractor Supply first supported the veteran-led humanitarian organization in its recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene in 2024. The Hometown Heroes initiative also includes: A Spotlight Series that recognizes Team Members who embody the spirit of being Hometown Heroes with a $5,000 donation made to a Hometown Hero charity of their choice. The Neighbor's Club Hometown Heroes benefit, which includes automatic top-tier Preferred Plus Neighbor status, where veterans, service members and first responders are eligible to enroll. This Hometown Heroes benefit is one of the few recognition programs that provide everyday savings with no limit on total savings and no brand exclusions. To learn more, visit About Tractor Supply Company For more than 85 years, Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO) has been passionate about serving the needs of recreational farmers, ranchers, homeowners, gardeners, pet enthusiasts and all those who enjoy living Life Out Here. Tractor Supply is the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the U.S., ranking 296 on the Fortune 500. The Company's more than 52,000 Team Members are known for delivering legendary service and helping customers pursue their passions, whether that means being closer to the land, taking care of animals or living a hands-on, DIY lifestyle. In store and online, Tractor Supply provides what customers need – anytime, anywhere, any way they choose at the low prices they deserve. As part of the Company's commitment to caring for animals of all kinds, Tractor Supply is proud to include Petsense by Tractor Supply, a pet specialty retailer, and Allivet, a leading online pet pharmacy, in its family of brands. Together, Tractor Supply is able to provide comprehensive solutions for pet care, livestock wellness and rural living, ensuring customers and their animals thrive. From its stores to the customer's doorstep, Tractor Supply is here to serve and support Life Out Here. As of March 29, 2025, the Company operated 2,311 Tractor Supply stores in 49 states and 206 Petsense by Tractor Supply stores in 23 states. For more information, visit and
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
1 in 5 Tractor Supply customers now raise chickens, thanks to egg inflation
The high price of eggs is spurring many Americans to invest in a new backyard pet — chickens. That poultry, in turn, is an important catalyst for retailer Tractor Supply (TSCO), which sells everything from coops to feed to the chicks themselves. Around 11 million Americans now own chickens, according to the American Pet Products Association, a 28% jump from 2023. That's good news for Tractor Supply, whose just over 2,300 locations cater to hobbyist farmers and serve for many as a sort of general store. 'Nearly 1 in 5 of our customers raise chickens now,' Tractor Supply CEO Hal Lawton told Yahoo Finance in a recent interview. 'I think part of it is just the overall wave that's occurring in that category and in that animal species. And then some of it was also driven by the concern of egg prices. But even as egg prices have come down, we've not seen any slowdown in that category in the business.' Prices have fallen from a high of $6.23 on average for a dozen large Grade A eggs in March of this year, but they were still $4.55 a dozen in May, up from $2.70 in May 2024. Still, Tractor Supply expects to sell a record number of chickens during its 'Chick Days,' a spring event at which it sells live baby birds. In 2024, the chain sold 10.5 million chicks as part of the promotion. While the category is still a small proportion of revenue, according to Mizuho analyst David Bellinger, it's a traffic driver. 'We estimate about 20% of Neighbors Club loyalty members (approx. 7-8M) own chicks, and spend $300+ per year across ~10x transactions - on par with the "backyard homesteader" customer set per TSCO's analyst day,' Bellinger wrote in a March note. Tractor Supply's stock has been in a late post-pandemic normalization phase. When urbanites fled cities and leaned into remote work, some also embraced the rural lifestyle and became Tractor Supply customers. From its low in March 2020, the stock continued to rise through October 2024, ultimately climbing about 350%. Since then, shares have slid by about 15%. That slowdown has mirrored same-store sales, which spiked by 23% and 17% in 2020 and 2021, respectively, before slowing in 2022 and flatlining in 2023 and 2024. 'If I look back over the last five years, we've basically doubled the size of our business,' Lawton said in the interview. 'I think different than a lot of retailers, we've not given back any of those gains that we've had over the last five years.' One pressure point over the past 18 to 24 months, Lawton said, has been pricing for animal feed, a big business for Tractor Supply for owners of everything from chickens to cows to dogs and cats. It's tied to commodity prices, which have been trending lower. Lawton is optimistic they're starting to move higher. As for shoppers, Lawton said demand has remained consistent: 'I think the consumer continues to be stable and strong.' Investors will have to wait until the company's next earnings report, scheduled for late July, to determine just how strong demand has been — and just how many chicks Tractor Supply sold this quarter. Julie Hyman is the co-host of Market Domination on Yahoo Finance. You can find her on social media @juleshyman. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
1 in 5 Tractor Supply customers now raise chickens, thanks to egg inflation
The high price of eggs is spurring many Americans to invest in a new backyard pet — chickens. That poultry, in turn, is an important catalyst for retailer Tractor Supply (TSCO), which sells everything from coops to feed to the chicks themselves. Around 11 million Americans now own chickens, according to the American Pet Products Association, a 28% jump from 2023. That's good news for Tractor Supply, whose just over 2,300 locations cater to hobbyist farmers and serve for many as a sort of general store. 'Nearly 1 in 5 of our customers raise chickens now,' Tractor Supply CEO Hal Lawton told Yahoo Finance in a recent interview. 'I think part of it is just the overall wave that's occurring in that category and in that animal species. And then some of it was also driven by the concern of egg prices. But even as egg prices have come down, we've not seen any slowdown in that category in the business.' Prices have fallen from a high of $6.23 on average for a dozen large Grade A eggs in March of this year, but they were still $4.55 a dozen in May, up from $2.70 in May 2024. Still, Tractor Supply expects to sell a record number of chickens during its 'Chick Days,' a spring event at which it sells live baby birds. In 2024, the chain sold 10.5 million chicks as part of the promotion. While the category is still a small proportion of revenue, according to Mizuho analyst David Bellinger, it's a traffic driver. 'We estimate about 20% of Neighbors Club loyalty members (approx. 7-8M) own chicks, and spend $300+ per year across ~10x transactions - on par with the "backyard homesteader" customer set per TSCO's analyst day,' Bellinger wrote in a March note. Tractor Supply's stock has been in a late post-pandemic normalization phase. When urbanites fled cities and leaned into remote work, some also embraced the rural lifestyle and became Tractor Supply customers. From its low in March 2020, the stock continued to rise through October 2024, ultimately climbing about 350%. Since then, shares have slid by about 15%. That slowdown has mirrored same-store sales, which spiked by 23% and 17% in 2020 and 2021, respectively, before slowing in 2022 and flatlining in 2023 and 2024. 'If I look back over the last five years, we've basically doubled the size of our business,' Lawton said in the interview. 'I think different than a lot of retailers, we've not given back any of those gains that we've had over the last five years.' One pressure point over the past 18 to 24 months, Lawton said, has been pricing for animal feed, a big business for Tractor Supply for owners of everything from chickens to cows to dogs and cats. It's tied to commodity prices, which have been trending lower. Lawton is optimistic they're starting to move higher. As for shoppers, Lawton said demand has remained consistent: 'I think the consumer continues to be stable and strong.' Investors will have to wait until the company's next earnings report, scheduled for late July, to determine just how strong demand has been — and just how many chicks Tractor Supply sold this quarter. Julie Hyman is the co-host of Market Domination on Yahoo Finance. You can find her on social media @juleshyman.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chickens are becoming 3rd most popular pet: Tractor Supply CEO
Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) is expecting high demand for its live chick and chicken sales through the chain's Chick Days promotions. Tractor Supply Company CEO Hal Lawton talks about his company's chicken sales as rising egg prices have been a concerning economic indicator throughout 2025. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
