Marketer Spotlight: GROWMARK

GROWMARK’s roots run deep in the cooperative spirit that has long defined the propane and agricultural industries. Built on a foundation of shared ownership and collaboration, the organization has spent decades helping its members strengthen operations and better serve their communities. From supply reliability to workforce development and technology investments, GROWMARK continues to position its members for success in a rapidly changing energy landscape. In this Marketer Spotlight, the team shares how its cooperative model shapes decision-making and supports propane marketers across its network.

Can you share GROWMARK’s history and how the organization operates today? 

GROWMARK’s story is deeply rooted in the evolution of American agriculture. Our organization traces its origins back to 1927, when farmers across the Midwest began forming local cooperatives to secure reliable access to fuel, fertilizer and crop inputs. These early co-ops learned that by working together, they could strengthen their operations and stabilize their communities. The federated cooperative model and ground-up ownership structure shape every strategic decision made today. 

What regions and customer segments does GROWMARK serve? Where are you seeing the most growth or opportunity right now? 

Our operations are heavily focused on the Midwest, the East Coast and the Southeast. We also supply our members in Ontario, Canada. We believe residential homeowners are looking for an affordable and efficient way to heat and power their homes. Data centers and other industries are placing an enormous demand on the already-taxed electric grid, and homes are at greater risk during power outages. We see builders switching to propane as consumers seek a reliable source of heat and backup power. We are working with our sales teams to educate consumers and builders to ensure generators are sized correctly for homes, and how options like tankless water heaters play in their favor. 

How would you describe GROWMARK’s mission and core values? 

GROWMARK’s mission is to improve the long-term profitability of its member-owners by helping farmers feed and fuel the world. We value integrity, quality, expertise, dependability and customer satisfaction through tailored solutions and operational efficiency. 

What sets GROWMARK apart as a partner to propane marketers? 

What truly differentiates GROWMARK in the propane space is the way we blend the scale and sophistication of a major energy supplier with the mindset of a long-term partner. Few can deliver the combination of reliability, strategic support and cooperative values that GROWMARK brings to the table. 

How has GROWMARK helped a member company overcome a significant operational or supply-related challenge? 

We can certainly point back to the 2013-2014 heating season as a challenge that was successfully navigated within our system, or the 2019 grain drying season, or even the stress this past season provided. The importance of all those situations is that together, we all learned how to better protect our business and provide our customers with reliable supply. For example, by implementing remote tank monitors, we’ve reduced emergency deliveries and improved customer satisfaction. We’ve analyzed our bulk storage turns and added storage where needed. Our proactive approach to supply planning has ensured that our customers experienced uninterrupted service even during these challenges. 

What industry trends are having the biggest impact on GROWMARK and its members today? 

Some of the trends impacting our members are federal regulations, state-level electrification policies, labor challenges and general inflation affecting operational expenses. We’re actively involved with the lobbying efforts of [the National Propane Gas Association] and our state/regional associations to advocate for energy choice legislation to prevent local bans and preserve consumer fuel options. We’re also faced with farmer consolidation, data and AI integration into agronomic practices and decision-making, sustainability, and economic pressure from changing market dynamics. GROWMARK teams work daily to help members stay informed about the latest changes in these areas, provide advice and guidance, and maintain a pipeline of information flowing to ensure they are equipped with the best information for each decision they need to make. 

How does GROWMARK support member companies in areas like safety, training and day-to-day operations? 

Safety is one of our core values. We are centered on a ‘choose safe’ approach, aiming to ensure all employees return home safely every day. Our strict compliance with employee training and safety standards, and our commitment to treating safety as a moral obligation, allow our customers to feel confident that their systems are reliable and safe for their families, farms and businesses. Many of our members practice proactive reporting. We encourage the reporting of ‘good catches’ and discovered issues as learning opportunities to improve safety across the system. We not only focus on the obvious propane safety training, but we also emphasize that safety is a value, not just a rule, with a goal of preventing injuries and ensuring each employee understands their critical role. 

What role does technology play in your strategy, and how is it helping member companies operate more efficiently? 

Technology is central to GROWMARK’s strategy to help members differentiate in the ag retail marketplace and to drive success for their member-owners. We have tools our members use to improve efficiency and provide a better customer experience. One of the biggest advantages comes from data. GROWMARK has invested heavily in systems that give marketers clearer visibility into supply, demand and market conditions. Whether it’s real-time inventory monitoring, forecasting tools or digital platforms that streamline ordering and logistics, we’re helping members make decisions based on insight rather than instinct. That leads to better planning, fewer emergency deliveries and more efficient use of assets. We also support member companies with tools that improve routing, customer communication and back office efficiency. From tank-monitoring solutions to automated delivery scheduling and online account access, these technologies help marketers reduce miles driven, optimize labor and deliver a better customer experience. 

How is GROWMARK positioning its members for long-term success in a changing energy landscape? 

At the core, our commitment to our customers and members is supply security. GROWMARK has invested in a robust, diversified supply network including pipelines, rail terminals, storage assets and long-standing producer relationships. Through these investments, we’re able to give marketers confidence even in the most volatile market conditions. When winter demand spikes or infrastructure disruptions hit, our partners know they have a supplier behind them that plans ahead, communicates clearly and prioritizes their needs.

To see how propane companies are making strides across a variety of sectors, take a look at past iterations of Marketer Spotlight.