Scotts To Acquire Liqui-Green Locations

Liqui-Green also had 15 franchises throughout the Midwest and the East Coast, and Scotts assumes the role of franchisor for each of those organizations. Scotts plans to talk with each of the Liqui-Green franchisees to explore the potential for converting them to Scotts LawnService franchises or Scotts even acquiring those franchise organizations.

This deal comes just weeks after Scotts LawnService announced a series of other lawn care acquisitions (see Scotts Announces Numerous Acquisitions), including:

• Northern Lawns, Omaha, Neb.
• Real Green Lawn Care, Detroit, Mich.
• Munie Lawn Care, St. Louis, Mo.
• Green Valley Lawn Care, Kansas City, Kan.
• Soft-N-Green, Columbus, Ohio

Scotts has now acquired nearly two dozen lawn care companies in recent months, taking its expected annual revenue for this year to nearly $60 million. "While our acquisition program may not be as aggressive as previous consolidators, our focus is the acquisition of the right companies in new cities," explained Mark Long, vice president, Scotts LawnService, when talking in April about the company's acquisitions. "I promise you, the grass oval and butterfly will be visible in more neighborhoods and more cities in the very near future."

Liqui-Green was a Chicago-based franchise organization, however its number of franchises has been decreasing since it topped out at 30 units in 1997.