Our History

Hensall Co-op has served our members and the entire Canadian agricultural community for over 85 years by earning the trust of producers and adding value to make their own business successful and more profitable. From its humble beginnings in 1937, we have grown to be one of the top-ten non-financial co-ops in Canada. At the core of our success is the understanding and belief that by providing value to our members, we grow together.

Here is a timeline of some of the milestones that have made Hensall Co-op what it is today.

 

1937

South Huron Farmers' Co-op is founded 

 

1945

 

The Co-op is reorganized and renamed Hensall District Co-op

 

1946

 

We purchased a lot on Main Street in Hensall for $900

 

1947

 

Hensall Co-op entered into a fuel contract with United Farmers Co-op

 

1950

 

A new building was erected on Main Street in Hensall and we purchased seed cleaning equipment

 

1958

 

We purchased a second fuel delivery truck

 

1960

 

We built bulk fertilizer building and installed our first blender at the south edge of Hensall

 

1962

 

We opened the Zurich Feed Mill at its present location

 

1967

 

We made our initial entry into the grain and bean business through the purchase of the E.L. Mickle and Son grain and bean handling facilities; our revenues surpassed $1M

 

1968

 

We bought five acres on the northern edge of Hensall for $1,500

 

1974

 

A new office, store and warehouse was built on the Hensall property; we had 40 employees

 

1975

 

We continued to expand storage at Hensall and had more than 12 silos; our first terragator was purchased

 

1978

 

We purchased our first computer

 

1979

 

Earl Wagner was named General Manager

 

1981

 

We installed an underground fuel storage and delivery system; we launched the Sacket dry fertilizer blender in Hensall

 

1983

 

We started propane delivery; computer drying controls were installed on the corn dryers; our merger with the Seaforth Co-op was approved

 

1988

 

We built a 30,000 mt fertilizer/grain storage terminal with 4 domes

 

1989

 

Our new Seaforth location was developed 1¼ miles east of Seaforth, including installation of new “state of the art” Waconia dry fertilizer blender

 

1990

 

We acquired T.B. Allen Limited and Allboro Elevators Limited in Londesboro

 

1991

 

We merged with Exeter District Co-op bringing on their facilities in Exeter and Ailsa Craig

 

1993

 

We purchased the Forest, Ilderton and Parkhill Co-operatives from U.C.O

 

1994

 

We opened our world-class bean processing facility in Hensall after an initial investment of $2.5M

 

1996

 

We constructed a world-class coloured bean receiving, cleaning, drying and storage facility once again at a cost of $2.5M

 

2000

 

Hensall Global Logistics, our full-service international freight forwarding company, was established at our Hensall location

 

2007

 

With 230 full-time employees and 60 part-time employees, our sales and service revenue was $225M

 

2010

 

We purchased the Exeter Distribution Warehouse giving us 300,000 square feet of warehouse on 150 acres and we acquired Hensall Co-op Kurtzville and Brussels

 

2012

 

We purchased Hensall Co-op Mitchell with 2.8 million bushels of storage followed by the Mitchell Feed Mill two years later; our revenues surpass $500M

 

2014

 

We began to operate Hensall Co-op Lakeside

 

2015

 

We acquired the Clinton Feed Mill and Elevator from the Fleming family

 

2017

 

Brad Chandler was named CEO; we acquired Hensall Co-op Aylmer; our reported revenues exceeded $700M and we had more than 500 employees

 

2018

 

We acquired Hensall Co-op Aylmer Crops; we opened our commercial fleet maintenance centre in Exeter; we expanded to include farm services warehouses in Kurtzville, Mitchell and Rignold

 

2019

 

We added bean processing in Manitoba with our Hensall Co-op Bloom and Miami additions; our Drayton fertilizer blending facility opened; Hensall Co-op Tilbury and Harrow were acquired; purchased Cook's Parrish & Heimbecker Hensall facility adjacent to our main location

 

2020

 

In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic revenues surpsass $800 million for the first time

 

2021

 

Acquired equity interest in Overseas Container Forwarding Inc. and Overseas Container Logistics Ltd. with offices in Vancouver and Seattle; launched Hensall Food Inc. with entry into the ready-made meals market; introduced the Bright Futures Scholarship program, awarding $2500 scholarships to people entering 1st year post-secondary education that will lead to a career in the wider agriculture industry

 

2022

 

Reported revenues in excess of $1 billion; Hensall Foods secured contracts with 2 major retailers for ready-made meals

 

2023

 

Launched Silverline seeds in partnership with Syngenta to further strengthen our IP program; acquisition of Gentec Inc., a dry bean seed and research enterprise located in Idaho, USA; acquisition of Minn-Dak Growers Ltd., a pioneer in processing and marketing specialty crops from the Upper Great Plains

   

Increasing Revenue Growth chart for Hensall Co-op

Revenue Growth of Hensall Co-op

 

Old Ailsa Craig Co-op builiding

Ailsa Craig

 

Hensall Co-op 1939 Share

1939 Share

 

Zurich 1948 Co-op building

1948 - Zurich

 

1965 Mobile Feed Mill

1965 Mobile Feed Mill

 

Londesborough Mill 1989 building

1989 Londesborough Mill