Del’s feed chain brand seeing more conversions to Tractor Supply

Del’s Feed and Farm Supply will close its Buckley store on April 15, the latest in a trend that will apparently see the brand disappear.

While the Buckley closing will leave that community without a farm supply store most of the Del’s are reopening under the marquee of the Del’s parent company, Brentwood, Tennessee-based Tractor Supply Co.

Del Capps started Del’s in 1972 with three Washington locations. It eventually grew to more than 20 stores in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Hawaii.

The Buckley closure is the most recent in a series of closings or rebrandings of stores in Enumclaw, Auburn, Olympia, Yelm, Spanaway and Monroe.

The Del’s store in Port Orchard will reopen as a Tractor Supply store May 23. Del’s employees in Shelton, Montesano and Longview all said their stores would be rebranded as Tractor Supply in the near future.

Though a Tractor Supply spokesman announced the closing of the Buckley store he did not respond to questions about the future of the Del’s store brand, only that the Tractor Supply brand will be expanding throughout the state.

Tractor Supply operates more than 1,500 stores in 49 states, the largest of its kind. Aside from Del’s it also operates under the name of HomeTown Pet.

Tractor Supply’s stated strategy is to locate primarily in towns near major metropolitan markets and in rural communities. They sell livestock, pet and small animal products, hardware, lawn and garden items, clothing and agricultural products.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 12:38 PM with the headline "Del’s feed chain brand seeing more conversions to Tractor Supply."