Agway of Cape Cod Named Family Owned Business of the Year for MA

BOSTON – The Small Business Administration (SBA) has named Agway of Cape Cod the 2023 Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Business of the Year for Massachusetts.

Agway of Cape Cod is a third generation, family-run business founded by Roger Wile in the 1960s in Northboro, Massachusetts. Mr. Wile passed the business to his son and daughter-in-law Peter and Susan Wile, who relocated the store to Orleans in 1993 and Agway of Cape Cod was established. They soon expanded with the opening of stores in Chatham and Dennis, which today stands as the flagship location and company headquarters.

“It’s evident the family values instilled by Mr. Wile in his business have remained a driving force behind Agway until today,” said District Director Robert Nelson. “After working their entire careers in the family business, it’s great to see the third generation honoring the legacy of their grandfather by investing in employee growth and building a sustainable establishment for decades to come. “

Since 1993, Agway of Cape Cod’s three stores and e-commerce website have been supplying farm and feed, lawn, garden, pet supplies, landscaping, home décor, gifts, apparel, and other home products to the region as a one-stop shopping destination.

“Every day, we challenge ourselves to reach the highest standards in providing for our employees, sourcing responsible products, and embracing innovative technologies. This spirit of growth has been key in the continued success of our family business, and we are so appreciative of those who have helped us along the way,” said Co-Owners Josh Wile and Jessica Thomas.

Agway of Cape Cod in 2017 received an SBA loan to partially fund the purchase of a local warehouse, which is being utilized to store its expanding mulch, soil and hard good products. The warehouse space was integral for storing outdoor furniture inventory and conducting furniture assembly.

In June of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for $150,000 was secured to help sustain Agway of Cape Cod as they pivoted to curbside only shopping to keep in accordance with regulations during that time.

However, during the period of 2018 to 2021, net sales at Agway had grown by 43% with an average annualized employee count that grew from 90 employees in 2018 to an estimated 113 employees in 2022. Josh and Jessica pride themselves on employee retention and internal advancement alongside an inclusive culture, creating a workplace that employees enjoy working at.

In 2016, Josh and Jessica established The Agway of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation, with the mission to provide support to local nonprofit organizations that enrich the lives of Cape Cod’s people and animals. Among the beneficiaries are The Orleans Pond Coalition, The Latham Centers, Police K-9 Relief Fund, Wild Care, Family Pantry, and the Lower Cape Outreach Council.

Josh currently serves on the board of Nauset Youth Alliance and Jessica serves as VP of the board for Friends of Brewster Dog Park. In 2016 and 2018 they spearheaded the Paw Palooza festival – raising $110,000 for the Cape’s largest animal shelters – the MSPCA and the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

The company was nominated by Andrew Foss, Vice President at Cape Cod 5 Bank.

Josh and Jessica will be honored at the annual SCORE Boston Celebrates Small Business Success Featuring the Massachusetts SBA 2023 Small Business Awards on Wednesday, May 10th, 2023, at the Sheraton Hotel, Needham, MA.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. It delivers services to people through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.