Schaefer Greenhouses, a longstanding family-owned business in Montgomery that has provided plants, gardening supplies, floral arrangements and more in the Fox Valley area for nearly a century, has been purchased by Minooka-based AEC Supply, Inc.
According to a press release, the supply company is “a leading provider of high-quality landscaping, erosion control and agricultural products” and will be taking over the business launched by the Schaefer family in 1926 in an effort to expand its brand and services.
“With this acquisition, AEC Supply will integrate its strong logistics and distribution network to enhance Schaefer’s delivery capabilities, ensuring greater reach and even more efficient service for customers across the region,” the released said.
Mary Ann Kutnick, who serves as owner and office manager at Schaefer Greenhouses, spoke recently about the acquisition and said that “it happened very quickly.”
“We started talking with AEC just after the first of the year and things happened rapidly. It took about a month and by Valentine’s Day this year things were wrapped up,” Kutnick said. “Our property has been for sale for many years – more than five. We’ve been waiting for a buyer and been in conversations with several people trying to find the right fit.”
Kutnick said officials from AEC approached the greenhouse owners, adding that “they had a connection here in Montgomery.”
“We were looking to sell and they were looking to expand,” she said. “They have a business-to-business company and were looking to expand into the retail and also get something more centralized for some of their customers. They were in the horticultural business already but they wanted to expand into the retail market.”
Billy Murdoch, operations manager at AEC Supply, Inc., said the company “spoke to the Schaefer family in the beginning of February and started doing our due diligence, not only on the property, but on the business.”
“It’s going to continue to be Schaefer Greenhouses,” he said. “We like the story behind them. They’ve been around 99 years and hopefully we’ll be around for another hundred.”
Murdoch said the acquisition is a way for the company to expand its brand.
“We wanted to get in a retail space for a long time and have a lot of people with a retail background and experience who work for our company,” he said. “It’s also a good location to have for our company. We’ll be able to have wholesale pickup for some of our local contractors. It’s a good team because we are a family-owned business, and we worked to acquire another family-owned business.”
Kutnick said that AEC Supply is a good fit to take over the business.
“We received a nice offer and felt comfortable with the family and we’re excited that they were willing to invest in the business and do some things we haven’t been able to afford in the last few years,” she said. “People will see some visual things for sure. I’m not sure what their timeline is but they are looking at new signage, an expansion of the property a little bit and offering more products that would be available to more contractors or landscapers as well as the home gardener.”
AEC is now in full charge of the facility. All of the current work force is being kept, which includes around 45 people including seasonal employees that are coming back, the new owners said.
They said their logistical expertise will now be applied to the greenhouse.
“We use a lot of technology in our companies and having a lot of logistics and part of our company focus is same-day delivery to our customers throughout the Midwest,” Murdoch said. “We’re already doing that, and we want to bring that to Schaefer’s. They’re already doing that too, but our logistics will help guide that.”
The greenhouse will be getting “some TLC and really spruce things up around here” Murdoch promised.
“We’re planning to put up a new sign and we’re working with the village of Montgomery on that,” he said.
Donna J. Kuda, president of AEC, sent out an email Wednesday about the acquisition.
“This strategic move allows us to expand our erosion control and landscape product offerings … giving our customers access to an even wider variety of high-quality solutions for all their landscaping needs,” according to the message.
“We are committed to a smooth and seamless transition, ensuring that our employees, customers and partners experience no disruption in service,” the email said. “Our leadership teams are working closely together to integrate operations efficiently while maintaining the exceptional service and expertise that both companies are known for.”
Kutnick said she plans to stick around “through the garden season … before I make my exit.”
She said her plans now are “to be out in my garden.”
“I’ll be able to give it more of a focus and minding my garden instead of someone else’s,” she said.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
