South Dakota firm buying Wholesale Feeds in Marion

Consumers Supply Distributing Co. of North Sioux City, S.D.,  is acquiring the assets and business interests of Wholesale Feeds Inc. in Marion.

Both companies are wholesale distributors of feed grade pharmaceuticals, amino acids, vitamins and specialty ingredients into the large animal business.

Consumer Supply Distributing, in a posting on its Web site, says it will take over operations of Wholesale Feeds on Sept. 3 and plans to continue operations as usual in Marion.

Wholesale Feeds, founded in 1961 in Cedar Rapids by Earl Brunson, started off as a bakery and feed ingredient distributor with 12 employees. In 1998, the company moved to a new 70,000-square-foot building at 6000 Linn Aire Ave. in Marion.

Wholesale Feeds reportedly employs between 80 and 100 people.

In addition to its wholesale business, Consumers Supply Distributing, founded in 1956, has developed a line of companion animal products including horse feeds, pet foods, show feeds, and pet treats.