The Peavey Origin Story

 Peavey’s presence in Canada began in 1906 when Frank H. Peavey’s son-in-law, Frank Heffelfinger, along with Canadian Peavey executives, established the British American Elevator Company in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

In 1908, Peavey expanded further with the creation of the Security Elevator Company Ltd., which built grain elevators along the newly constructed Grand Trunk Pacific Railway from Fort William, Ontario, to Prince Rupert, British Columbia (now part of the Canadian National Railway).

A year later, in 1909, Peavey Canada launched its third elevator company, the National Grain Elevator Company, operating along both Canadian Pacific and Northern rail lines. That same year, Peavey acquired the Northern Elevator Company, the first line company established in Western Canada (founded in 1893).

By 1911, British American Elevator Company had grown to operate 100 grain elevators, primarily in Saskatchewan.

In 1940, Peavey’s Canadian grain companies—British American, Northern, National, and Grand Trunk Pacific—were merged to form National Grain Company Limited, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Frank Heffelfinger’s son, George Heffelfinger, became president, overseeing more than 400 grain elevators across Canada.

By 1967, National Grain Company sought to diversify its operations. That year, it opened the first National Farmway Store in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, adjacent to one of its grain elevators. The plan was to expand these rural retail stores along National’s extensive grain elevator network, initially servicing areas from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the Alaska Highway gateway in Dawson Creek, BC.

In 1971, Peavey merged with McCabe Grain Company, forming National Grain Ltd. However, by 1975, the Peavey Company of Minneapolis decided to reduce its Canadian operations and began seeking a buyer for its grain and feed operations.

On January 1, 1975, National Grain Ltd. was acquired by Cargill, becoming Cargill Grain Company Ltd. Meanwhile, the National Feed & Livestock division was rebranded as Cargill Nutrena Feeds Ltd.

Despite selling off its grain operations, Peavey retained the National Farmway Stores retail division, renaming it Peavey Mart in 1975 to honour the company’s legacy and Frank H. Peavey (The Elevator King). 

By 1982, Peavey had decided to exit all remaining operations, selling off its U.S. and Canadian retail businesses. That year, Con-Agra acquired Peavey Mart, but after just two years, they opted to discontinue the chain due to underperformance.

Rather than allow the brand to disappear, Terry Jellicoe, Norm Nilsson, Bob Reierson, and Rick Anderson purchased the company in 1984, ensuring Peavey Mart remained in Canada and true to its rural roots. With the new ownership, Peavey Mart’s head office was relocated from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Red Deer, Alberta, where it remains today.

Peavey Mart continued to grow across Western Canada, and in 2016, Peavey Industries LP (Peavey Mart’s parent company) acquired TSC Stores, a well-known rural retail chain in Ontario. Recognizing the importance of the brand in that province, Peavey stepped in to acquire TSC Stores, securing jobs and preserving the brand’s presence in Ontario.

In 2021, Peavey Industries LP converted all Ontario TSC locations to Peavey Mart, solidifying a national retail presence. The Peavey name was maintained due to its deep-rooted history in Canada agriculture and the strong connection it held with rural communities.

For decades, Peavey Mart has stood as a symbol of resilience, hard work, and commitment to Canadian communities. From grain fields to farm stores, we’ve proudly served rural Canada for generations.

That’s why we proudly state that we are 100% Canadian-owned—and why we continue to thank our customers for supporting Canadian retail.

Now more than ever, our message is clear:
Support Canadian Retail.