Del’s Farm Supply store in Port Orchard

Tractor Supply Company, the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States, recently announced it has signed a letter of intent to purchase Lakewood-based Del’s Farm Supply.

Del’s operates 17 stores in the Northwest, including one which it built and opened a new store in Port Orchard just last year. As well as outlets in Buckley, Auburn, Chehalis, Olympia, Puyallup, Shelton, Spanaway and Yelm. The firm sells animal and farm supplies and boasted 2004 sales of $34 million. The acquisition is expected to be complete by the end of the year and existing Del’s stores are expected to retain their name.

“The proposed acquisition would provide us an established business in the Pacific Northwest from which we can expand our geographic footprint in an efficient, cost-effective manner,” said Jim Wright, president and CEO of Tractor Supply Co., which operates 547 stores in 34 states.