Industry agriculture Website www.ucoop.com | Members 14 Founded 1972 | |
Predecessor United Cooperatives, Inc. and National Cooperatives, Inc Headquarters Eagan, Minnesota, United States Type of business agricultural supply cooperative federation | ||
Universal Cooperatives, based in Eagan, Minnesota, is a cooperative controlled by 17 regional agricultural marketing and agricultural supply cooperatives. The distribution system includes 110 regional feed mills, 26 warehouses, and 7 research farms. The company was formed November 1, 1972 by a merger of United Cooperatives, Inc. of Alliance, Ohio and National Cooperatives, Inc. of Albert Lea, Minnesota. The companies had inter-mixed ownership, leading to merger discussion, and eventual merger. On May 11, 2014, Universal Cooperatives, Inc. and its domestic subsidiaries filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
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United Cooperatives, Inc.
United Cooperatives began in 1930 as Farm Bureau Oil Company, and changed its name in 1936. Founding members include:
National Cooperatives, Inc.
National Cooperatives was founded in 1933 by
Brands
Universal owns the CO-OP brand, which is used on tires, batteries, farm chemicals, animal health products, twine, and lubricants. It distributes tires through the Mr. Tire chain.