Does Walmart own Tractor Supply? (It’s not what you think)
Walmart, the largest retail chain in the world, has changed the experience of life in rural America in everything it does.
Another store thriving alongside Walmart is Tractor Supply. However, with both companies dominating rural America, you might wonder if Walmart owns TSC. Here’s what I found.
Does Walmart own Tractor Supply?
Walmart does not own Tractor Supply. Although Walmart and Tractor Supply overlap in some product inventory and services, they are not legally related. In contrast, Tractor Supply is a publicly traded agricultural retail chain owned by public investors.
To learn more about who owns Tractor Supply Company, why some might think Walmart owns TSC, and what similar items you might find at both stores, check out all the details below!
Who owns the tractor supply?
Tractor Supply Company has changed hands several times since it was founded by Charles E. Schmidt in the 1930’s.
First acquired by National Industries in 1969; then in 1978, Fuqua Industries acquired it when it acquired National Industries.
However, by 1982, Tractor Supply Company was acquired in a “management-led leveraged buyout.”
Like Walmart and other major retailers, Tractor Supply is now a separate parent company, and as the name suggests, TSC itself has subsidiaries.
These include Orscheln Farm & Home, which pet store retailers Petsense, LLC and TSC announced they will acquire for nearly $300 million.
What’s the connection between Walmart and Tractor Supply?
Although there is no legal or business connection between Walmart and Tractor Supply Company, it’s easy to see why some would think there was.
That’s because TSC has been dubbed “the Walmart of rural America” by Money Show magazine.
While TSC stores are nowhere near the size of a Walmart supermarket, they have a similar big box/warehouse feel.
There may be some overlap between Walmart and TSC shoppers.
After all, the number of Wal-Mart stores outnumbers the number of TSCs by about three to one.
So it’s no surprise that Walmart poached some TSC customers looking for more generic, niche agriculture, horticulture, or livestock products.
Despite attracting some of the most remote communities in the country, you can often find TSC stores on the same blocks as Walmart supercenters.
What similar items do Walmart and Tractor Supply sell?
Some of the main similar items sold by Walmart and Tractor Supply include clothing and footwear; pet supplies; lawn and garden supplies, tools and guns; and lawn supplies.
However, the main difference between these types of products is that TSCs tailor their products more to their target market—farmers, landowners, and truck drivers.
As a result, cleaning supplies are more likely to sell in bulk, and clothing and footwear are better suited for hard, dirty jobs.
TSC sells dozens of work and hiking boots; Walmart might only sell one or two different items.
Are Walmart and tractor supply stores similar in size?
Walmart stores are much larger than Tractor Supply stores.
The average Walmart store is about 180,000 square feet, while a Tractor Supply store is only about 15,500 square feet.
But of course, TSC can cut inventory and sell out from smaller stores as they focus on their niche.
Walmart stores have expanded because they are designed to be a one-stop shop for people from all walks of life.
If you want to read more about Walmart, you can also check out our related posts on Does Walmart Own Lowe’s, Does Walmart Own Costco, and Does Walmart Own Home Depot.
in conclusion
While Walmart doesn’t own Tractor Supply Company, the two companies do offer similar products in some departments and may trade some customers here and there.
However, both retailers understand their target audiences, and while they may compete indirectly, they have both thrived over the past decade.
