Content about Toro

The Toro Co. has partnered with Ryan Cos. to build a 450,000-sq.-ft. distribution center near Des Moines, Iowa. Toro will lease the facility from Ryan once construction is completed later this year. Toro will then transition distribution operations from its current facilities in Lakeville, Minn., and Beatrice, Neb., to the Des Moines facility.

Bloomington, Minn.-based Toro Co. posted record sales in 2011, including a 5.8% sales gain in the company's residential segment. 

“Fiscal 2011 was a very good year for the Toro Co., delivering record revenues and earnings per share,” said Michael Hoffman, Toro’s chairman and CEO.

For the year, the company's total earnings were up 26.3% to $117.7 million, and net sales were up 11.5% to $1.884 billion. In the fourth quarter, net earnings increased from $3.2 million to $5 million, as net sales increased 9.1% to $337.3 million.

Bloomington, Minn.-based Toro has posted third-quarter net earnings of $35.1 million, up 5% from net earnings of $33.4 million in the prior-year period.

Net sales for the quarter ended July 29 totaled $501 million, up 9% from net sales of $458.9 million in the third quarter of 2010.

Bloomington, Minn.-based Toro has reported second-quarter net earnings of $60.3 million, up 32% from net earnings of $45.7 million in the same period last year.

Net sales for the quarter ended April 29 totaled $631.6 million, up 12% from net sales of $562.8 million in the second quarter of 2010.

For the first six months of the fiscal period, Toro reported net earnings of $77.5 million, up 37% from net earnings of $56.6 million in the year-ago period.

Some 23,000 Toro Power Clear snowblowers and another 6,200 or so 20-inch Recycler mowers are being recalled.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Toro announced a voluntary recall of the products because the carburetors develop fuel leaks and can ignite when exposed to an ignition source, posing a fire or burn hazard.

No fires or injuries have been reported, but there have been about 500 reports of carburetor leaks. 

Electric corded lawn mowers accounted for only 6% of the walk-behind market in 2010 — but that’s up from 2.9% in 2009, according to data from consumer research firm The NPD Group.


Soaring fuel prices, tougher government emissions standards and a general trend toward environmental stewardship have given rise to more cordless electric walk mowers and manual mowers, especially for homeowners with smaller lawns. And powered mowers are feeling the trend, as well.


The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of certain Toro Z Master ZRT Mowers.

According to the CPSC: "Mowers with the optional deluxe seat have an operator presence switch built into the seat that may activate the mower when the operator vacates the seat, posing an injury hazard from the blade to the operator and anyone in the vicinity of the mower."

By this point in time, most outdoor power equipment manufacturers have switched production to lawn mowers, but Bloomington, Minn.-based Toro is still cranking out snow blowers in order to meet demand in the Northeast, according to NorthJersey.com.

Langula Hardware, a 96-year-old dealer in St. Paul. Minn., shut its doors on Dec. 3, according to an article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The store succumbed to repeated offers from the county redevelopment agency, the newspaper said, and finally agreed to sell the property.