Conard-Pyle makes changes to adjust to current times

WEST GROVE, Penn. -- The Conard-Pyle Company announced plans to redirect the 113-year-old nursery’s focus to the creation, development, patenting, marketing and licensing of its proprietary genetics.

The company will continue to produce 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, as he made the announcement at the offices here to the Conard-Pyle community.

“A vital company constantly looks at both internal and external circumstances and adjusts its core strengths to compensate,” he said.  “This is one of those times.”

Hutton, the third generation Hutton nurseryman and CEO, says the company will still be known as The Conard-Pyle Company and will be headquartered at the present 25 Lewis Road location.
 
Hutton says the company will focus on two areas. The first area is the creation, development, patenting, marketing and licensing of its proprietary genetics.  It will also focus on 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 Pennsylvania facility.

As part of the change, Hutton said the Maryland facility will be sold and the Pennsylvania wholesale facility will be leased.  The wholesale workforce in those states will be reduced during the next 12 months.  Severance packages, based on seniority, have been offered to all qualifying employees. If a sale and lease can take place in a timely manner, it is probable that a large number of existing staff will be retained.