Tractor Supply

Tractor Supply Company helps customers find everything they need to maintain their farms, ranches, homes and animals. Tractor Supply Company is the largest operator of rural lifestyle retail stores in the United States. 

The company operates over 2000 retail stores in 49 states, employs more than 45,000 team members and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn. Its stock is traded on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol "TSCO". The company was founded in 1938 as a mail-order catalogue business offering tractor parts to America's family farmers. Today Tractor Supply is a leading-edge retailer with annual revenues of nearly $10 billion. 

Tractor Supply stores are located primarily in towns outlying major metropolitan markets and rural communities. The typical Tractor Supply store has about 16,000 square feet of selling space inside, with a similar amount of outside space.

1938: TSC was founded in 1938 by Charles E. Schmidt as a mail-order business focused on providing quality tractor parts to farmers at fair prices. The company got its start in Minot, N.D.

1939: The first retail store was founded in 1939 in Minot, North Dakota.

1947: Charles began his business career in the radio industry, going to work for an Augusta, Georgia, radio station owned by J.B. Fuqua.

1949: Asda history and corporate video "Asda History Asda Stores Limited was founded as Associated Dairies & Farm Stores Limited in Leeds.

1958: Charles took the business public, and TSC shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

1959: On January 14, Tractor Supply became publicly traded on the Over-The-Counter Market and reached $10 million in sales. Storefronts followed, and Tractor Supply went public for the first time.

1964: After he stepped away from the company, Schmidt moved to south Florida, then at the age of 63 started another career as a banker, gaining control of a 27-bank chain, Gulfstream Banks, which became his second company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

1967: TSC opened its first international stores in Canada.

1968: After a stint in the service during the Korean War, he returned to Fuqua, where he served in a number of executive capacities until this year when he left to run his own business, the Daisy Corporation.

1969: The company is sold to National Industries.

1978: Fuqua Industries acquires the business.

1979: After working 15 years for a New Jersey retail chain, Two Guys Discount Stores, Scarlett came to TSC, a period of transition in the business.

1982: When management bought the company it was generating annual revenues in the $125 million range, drawn from 135 stores. TSC struggled during this period and only four years later, the company became independent once again when five executives of the company orchestrated a leveraged buyout of what was then called TSC Industries.

1992: In February, Hennesy stepped down, replaced as chairman and CEO by Scarlett.

1994: On February 17, the company went public on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol TSCO. Following its initial public offering, TSC made a push into North Carolina, and for the year added 13 stores to the chain with plans to add more at a clip of 20 stores per year.

1997: TSC also looked to the Internet starting the year, purely as a way to provide information to its customers. The company launched a pilot program to address this issue.

1999: It merged with Central Tractor Farm & Country of Iowa, making it the largest farm store retailer in the United States, but the debt incurred, as well as a clash in corporate cultures, led to severe repercussions.

2000: The price of TSC stock dipped to the $8 range in late 2000 as investors questioned the wisdom of the company's rapid move into Florida, but when it was clear that the gambit was paying off investors began to drive up the price.

2001: In November, the company was forced into bankruptcy.

2002: The company earned $1.21 billion.

2004: The company reported revenues of more than $1.7 billion and Fortune magazine named Tractor Supply to its list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses.

2011: After 72 years in business, Tractor Supply celebrated the opening of its 1,000th store.

2013: On October 10, the company celebrated its 75th anniversary by ringing the opening bell at the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York.

2014: Tractor Supply made it on the Fortune 500 list.

2015: He's the kind of shopper around whose precise needs and habits Tractor Supply has built a $6.2 billion (2015 revenues) business. The typical Tractor Supply customer owns the land, keeps pets, raises chickens and drives a pickup. Long-term debt stands at just $167 million as of the end of 2015.

2016: Tractor Supply has 1,500 locations spread across 49 states; the company plans to open around 115 stores this year and about 120 stores per year after that until 2,500 are in operation, mostly in rural or exurban areas.

2017: All TSC stores were outfitted with LED lighting.

2018: On March 31, the company opened its 1700th store. The Company celebrates 80 years of business with a yearlong campaign and by ringing the closing bell at the NASDAQ on September 4, 2018.

2020: TSC's 1,900th store opened in September 2020. Hal Lawton became CEO. TSC is the largest retail ranch and farm store operator in the United States In 2020, Tractor Supply joined Land O'Lakes, Microsoft and others in the American Connection Project to support rural broadband access.

2021: On September 25, the Company operated 177 Petsense stores in 23 states. Tractor Supply reached #291 on the Fortune 500 list and had over 20 million members in its loyalty program, Neighbor’s Club. TSC broke ground on its ninth distribution centre.

2022: The company is set to open 75-80 new stores, including relocating a store this month in Minot, N.D., home of the original Tractor Supply location.

“To work hard, have fun and make money by providing legendary service and great products at everyday low prices.”

“Working to elevate food and agriculture as the primary solution for sustainability – positioning farmers and ranchers as key change agents.”