Scotts' Eye is on the Lawn-Care Business--and a Chief Rival <b></b>

Marysville, Ohio--Scotts Co. thinks it can grow itsbudding LawnService division into a $740 million-a-year business inthe next decade. With more than 40 acquisitions under its belt,double-digit yearly sales increases and the strength of the Scottsname from its lawn-care products business, the company isn'tinterested in becoming just a formidable player in the $3.6billion-a-year industry. It's going after the largest player inthe market. -TruGreen ChemLawn

The residential lawn service business is highly fragmented.TruGreen is the dominant player, pulling in annual revenue of about$900 million for its core lawn- and tree-care business. Since itsfounding in 1997, Scotts LawnService has established a presence in46 markets and generated sales of $42 million last fiscal year. Thecompany wants to be in the top 100 lawn-service markets by the endof 2007, and acquisitions are getting it there. -ColumbusBusiness First