Agriliance relocates to Tournament Trails

By SUE PEASE

The Daily News

Agriliance, an agronomy marketing joint venture, is moving its East Memphis office farther east to the Tournament Trails office park, according to company officials and real estate agents involved with the deal.

Were very excited to be moving our offices to Tournament Trails. It provides exactly the kind of space efficiency and amenities we were seeking. And, well be located in an area that is attractive to both employees and visiting customers, said Jim Blome, Agriliance South vice president.

Agriliance is a joint venture of three companies Land OLakes Inc., CHS Cooperatives and Farmland Industries Inc., said Annette Degnan, Agriliance director of communications.

In June 1997, one arm of the venture purchased Memphis-based Terra Distribution, 6555 Quince Road.

After the purchase, the company operated under the name Agrodistribution. In 2000, it adopted the name Agriliance.

The business is a distributor of agricultural inputs, which include fertilizers and other crop-related products. Agriliance supplies crop nutrients, crop protection products, seed and related technical services, Degnan said.

The company, which has both wholesale and retail outlets, has about 140 retail locations in the Southeast that sell products to farmers, Degnan said.

The wholesale business sells to dealerships and cooperatives.

ProSource One, a division of the companys operations in the South, services the golf course, turf and ornamental and vegetation management industries, Degnan said.

Agriliance, headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., has 40 employees in Memphis and 2,500 company-wide.

Agriliance South will occupy 16,505 square feet at the Tournament Trails office park, which was developed by The Weston Cos. and is owned by Kemmons Wilson Cos.

The relocation will be complete in January.

The company will move into Building I of the office park, which is now more than 80 percent leased, said Laura Strand, leasing agent for Weston.

Building II is in its final design phase and is expected to be complete in 2004.

The 38-acre development in the Nonconnah Parkway corridor will eventually include four buildings, with Buildings I and III each comprising three stories and 73,000 square feet.

Buildings II and IV each will have 125,000 square feet and five stories.

Lease rates are $19.25 per square foot, Strand said.

Other tenants include Software Earnings and Kemmons Wilson Cos., which will move its headquarters to Building I in January.