Conard-Pyle changes company focus

The Conard-Pyle Co. will no longer grow finished stock and instead focus on creating and licensing genetics, and producing bare root roses and liners of roses and other proprietary material, and broker rose and perennial liners.

“In its 113 year history, The Conard-Pyle Company has changed course several times,” said Steve Hutton, company CEO. “A vital company constantly looks at both internal and external circumstances and adjusts its core strengths to compensate. This is one of those times.”

Going forward the company will still be known as The Conard-Pyle Company and will be headquartered at the West Grove, Pa., location.
 
Hutton said the company will focus on two areas:
1.   The creation, development, patenting, marketing and licensing of its proprietary genetics. 
2.   The production and sales of starter plants for growers, such as bare root roses, sold by its Star Rose division, and nursery stock liners produced in its PA facility.

As part of the change, Hutton said the MD facility will be sold and PA wholesale facility will be leased. 

“Although we always had a focus on introducing new plants, this specialty has become a more important part of the business,” Hutton said. “It will now become the center of the business.”