Patten Seed Company on Sep. 18, 2020, obtained strategic investment support from Heartwood Partners, a private equity firm, based in Norwalk, CT.

Patten Seed’s multi-generation family and senior management owners retained a meaningful investment in the Company and look forward to working with Heartwood Partners through the Company’s next chapter of growth.

“Heartwood Partners is different from other private equity groups we considered: different in approach, with lower-debt and longer investment term and different in attitude, bringing additional resources and support. We feel that our partnership will allow us to supercharge the upward trajectory our business was already on,” said Ben Copeland, Jr., CEO and second-generation owner.

Headquartered in Fort Valley, Ga., with farms, retail stores and an eCommerce platform serving Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, Patten Seed, approaching the market under the “Super- Sod” brand name, produces, markets and supplies a variety of leading turfgrass products to landscape companies and contractors as well as directly to homeowners, municipal and institutional customers. Its product offering includes certified sod and seed, as well as other lawn products and accessories such as soil, fertilizer, automatic mowers and more.

“Patten Seed distinguishes itself as an industry-leading producer of high-quality turfgrass products, providing customers a unique combination of operational expertise and a sophisticated commercial offering through its stores and eCommerce platform,” said Andrea Vandersall, vice president at Heartwood Partners. “We are excited to build upon Patten Seed’s long history of market leadership as it continues to expand its offering to customers throughout the Southeastern U.S.”

“The talented team at Patten Seed has created a transformative retail showroom and online store experience which guide consumers through the process of selecting the right sod for their home’s unique conditions. Their in-store pick-up and flexible home delivery services are top notch in the sod market,” said James Sidwa, managing director at Heartwood Partners. “We look forward to supporting management’s use of advanced farming technologies to drive continuous improvement in crop yields while ensuring the highest quality products for Patten’s customers.”

With Heartwood Partners’ investment in Patten Seed, the company will continue its strategic focus on delivering quality agricultural and landscaping products, while enhancing its business technology, product development and retail expansion into new markets in surrounding states. The company is seeking other farms, locations and technologies to expand its footprint and offering to its customers.

Patten Seed Company is a family- and employee-run business that employs experts in turf and horticulture. Focusing its sod, grass seed, and compost business in the Southeast, it sells sod under the Super-Sod® brand. Sod is sold by the individual roll, full pallet or truckload and is available for delivery or pick-up fresh from its farms to landscapers and directly to homeowners.

For more information about the company, visit www.supersod.com.