Although he had added grass seed to the product offering by 1870, this segment did not become an important part of the business until the early 20th century. While his 99.91 percent weed-free farm seed cost more, Scott assured his customers that it would save them time and money by reducing weeding chores and increasing yields. The founder ’s “white-hot hatred of weeds ” led him to start a seed-processing sideline, sorting weed seeds from crop seeds for local farmers. Scott worked at a seed elevator for four years before purchasing his own business, a hardware store, in 1870. The company was created by Civil War veteran Orlando McLean Scott, who moved to the small central Ohio town of Marysville in 1866. Berger, a former member of Miracle-Gro ’s board of directors, was hired as president, CEO, and chairman of the board that same year. Theodore Host, president since 1991 and CEO for scarcely one year, tendered his resignation in 1996. A restructuring of the merged companies moved several Miracle-Gro executives into key positions at Scotts. Some of this growth came from acquisitions, including the 1995 purchase of Stern ’s (now Scott ’s) Miracle-Gro Products, Inc. Scotts ’ sales increased from $413.6 million in 1992, when the company went public, to over $750 million in 1996. By the end of 1997, operations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Latin America generated about 10 percent of Scotts ’ annual sales. The Scotts family of brands includes organic soils and mulches under the Hyponex label, which boasts a 45 percent stake in its market, as well as Miracle-Gro plant foods, with a dominant 59 percent share of their segment. Professional clients include three-fourths of America ’s top 100 golf courses as well as such Major League Baseball venues as Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, and Wrigley Field. In addition to its consumer lawn care business, Scotts holds over 10 percent of the commercial lawn care market. With just over half of the do-it-yourself lawn care market, The Scotts Company is America ’s leading producer and marketer of grass seed, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. SICs: 2873 Nitrogenous Fertilizers 2874 Phosphatic Fertilizers 3524 Lawn & Garden Tractors & Home Lawn & Garden Equipment 6719 Holding Companies, Not Elsewhere Classified
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