McKenzie Seeds
McKenzie Seeds is a seed packaging company which is owned by Norwegian Jiffy International. It was founded in Brandon, Manitoba. Jiffy has moved production outside of Canada with fewer than 10 people still working in Brandon. It was established in 1896 by Dr. Albert Edward McKenzie, and claims to supply 60% of Canada's packet seed market.[1]
Its retail division sells seed under the brands McKenzie, Thompson & Morgan, Gusto Italia, and Pike, as well as other gardening products and accessories. Through a direct mail division it operates the brands McFayden and McConnell catalogues.
History
In 1945, 90% of the company shares passed from its founder to the Manitoba Government to benefit Brandon College, the forerunner to Brandon University. The remaining shares were given to the government in 1975. McKenzie Seeds was run as a Crown Corporation until 1994 at which time it was sold to Regal Greetings and Gifts.
On July 29, 2002 the management of McKenzie Seeds bought the company. The company remained under local ownership until November 2006. On November 3, 2006, newspaper reports confirmed the sale of McKenzie to Norwegian seed company Jiffy International, parent of American company, Jiffy Ferry-Morse.
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