ScottsMiracle-Gro Names Phil Jones to Lead Independent Retail Channel

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the world's leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, today announced Phil Jones, formerly president of its west coast region, will lead its retail channel for independent garden centers and hardware co-op stores as senior vice president of independent channel.

"We continue to refine our business model to build key capabilities and improve our competitiveness to meet our long-term goal of driving category growth and enhancing our industry leadership," said Barry Sanders, president and chief operating officer.  "While independent garden centers and hardware co-ops were the initial drivers of growth for our business, our performance in this channel has not met expectations in recent years. 

"For us to succeed in today's competitive environment, we must bring innovative ideas and new thinking to the table, which will allow us to build stronger relationships with our retail partners in the independent channel and the consumers who shop in their stores.  I am confident that with Phil's seasoned leadership, combined with a renewed focus on the consumer and investments in new in-store marketing strategies, we will succeed in driving a new level of profitable growth for us and our partners."

Jones was named regional president in June 2009, responsible for leading the Company's business development, marketing and sales efforts in the western U.S.  Jones' focus on independent garden centers and hardware co-op stores resulted in the top sales growth for the region within this channel for the past several years.  Prior to this appointment, Jones was vice president of consumer Roundup, a position that brought him to ScottsMiracle-Gro in June 2007 from Monsanto, which owns the Roundup brand.

Reporting to Jones will be Stephen Markert, vice president of channel sales, who will oversee independent garden center sales and marketing strategies.  Josh Meihls, director of national accounts, completes the team, and will oversee hardware co-op sales and marketing.      

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3 billion in worldwide sales, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., we operate Scotts LawnService®, the second largest residential lawn care service business.  In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligene® and Substral®. For additional information, visit us at www.scotts.com.

SOURCE The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

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