Tractor Supply eliminates DEI roles, withdraws carbon emissions goals
Tractor Supply Company is taking a more conservative stance as it pulls back on some social issues.
In a statement on its website posted on June 27, the nation's largest rural lifestyle retailer announced a series of changes to its environmental, social and governance initiatives (see below) that include the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion goals and the end of support for Pride events. It also will no longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group. (The retailer earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Best Places to Work Corporate Equality Index.)
Chain Store Age sister publication HBSDealer noted that the announcement came after the company received complaints — including calls for boycotts—in an X thread that begins: “It’s time to expose Tractor Supply.” The post has generated 2.8 million views and generated 2.2 thousand comments, most of them critical to what is described in the post as a "woke" agenda, the report said.
In making the changes, Tractor Supply said that it works hard to represent the values of the communities and customers it serves.
“Rural communities are the backbone of our nation and what make America great," the company stated. "We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them. We have taken this feedback to heart."
Going forward, Tractor Supply said it will ensure that its activities and giving "tie directly to our business." As such, the company will:
•Eliminate DEI roles and retire current DEI goals "while still ensuring a respectful environment;"
•No longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign;
•Withdraw its carbon emission goals and focus on its land and water conservation efforts;
•Refocus its team member engagement Groups on mentoring, networking and supporting the business; and
•Further focus on rural America priorities including agriculture education, animal welfare, veteran causes and being a good neighbor and stop sponsoring non-business activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns.
To read Tractor Supply's full statement, click here.
Tractor Supply has more than 50,000 employees across 2,250 stores