MAY 2026

May is always one of my favorite times of the year at Kurtz Bros.

After a challenging start to 2026, it is exciting to see the season fully come to life. Our yards are busy, our trucks are moving, projects are underway, and customers are once again focused on improving their properties and communities. The energy across the company feels completely different from what it did just a few months ago.

While we still have work to do to recover from the first quarter, April was an important step in the right direction. Sales improved, service revenue grew, and many of our key product categories showed strong momentum. The reality is that we entered this season with a deficit to overcome, but I am encouraged by what I am seeing throughout the organization.

We have also taken a few important steps to help offset rising costs and strengthen the business. The transition to more ACH payments has helped reduce credit card processing expenses, and we have begun implementing a fuel surcharge to address unusually high fuel costs. Neither decision is one we take lightly, but both are helping us manage expenses responsibly while positioning us for long-term success.

Our Transportation team is delivering at an incredible pace, moving nearly 4,800 loads this month. Our Operations teams continue to produce quality materials while supporting major projects and keeping inventory available during one of the busiest times of the year. Our Stores are doing an outstanding job serving customers, growing new product categories, and creating an exceptional customer experience. From the success of #57 Slag and High Format products to growth in natural stone, tools, and specialty products, it is great to see the results of the hard work that has gone into expanding our offerings.

I am also excited about the momentum we are seeing outside of our traditional operations. Our new website continues to improve and provide new capabilities for our customers. Our partnership with the Akron Zoo, expanded marketing efforts, and continued community involvement all help strengthen the Kurtz Bros. brand and position us for long-term success.

As we move into the heart of the season, I want to thank everyone for their effort, flexibility, and commitment. We have welcomed many new team members over the past few months, and I encourage everyone to continue helping them learn, grow, and become part of the Kurtz Bros. family.

Most importantly, let’s continue to focus on working safely. The pace of business is increasing, and with that comes more activity, more equipment, and more opportunities for something to go wrong. No customer order, project deadline, or load delivery is more important than making sure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.

The season is here. The opportunity is in front of us. Let’s continue building on the momentum we have created and make the most of the months ahead.

April Update

While we remain down year-to-date, April showed signs of improvement.  

Topsoil, Building Materials and Decorative Stone rebounded nicely during the month are now pacing ahead of year-to-date.  Unfortunately, Organics show little improvement and Mulches declined further.

Service Revenue for April increased 32%, over last year, although we still remain down 9% year-to-date.  The Cliffs Project not repeating in 2026 is the primary driver for contract and delivery revenue being down.

Although we still have ground to make up from the first quarter, April was a step in the right direction.  Our 2026 projections continue to show a profitable year, but consistent execution through the busy season will be critical.

No Submission.

May Momentum: The Season is Here

May is truly one of the best months of the year in the landscape and construction industry. Winter is behind us, spring is in full swing, and outdoor projects are ramping up everywhere. It’s the time of year when communities, contractors, and homeowners are ready to bring projects to life—and we’re ready to support them every step of the way.

Distributors, along with our store locations, are fully stocked and prepared for the busy planting and renovation season. Demand continues to grow as commercial landscapers and sitework contractors take on packed project schedules, making this one of the busiest starts to a season we’ve seen in years.

Our specialty soils continue to lead the way, with Bio Retention and CU Structural Soil in especially high demand. Infield Mix and Playground Mulch are also moving quickly as parks, schools, and recreational facilities prepare for the summer months. Across all locations, All Purpose Soil continues shipping steadily, with customers consistently recognizing the quality of our products and the service we provide.

Despite the heavy rain throughout March and April, our teams continued delivering dry material and meeting customer timelines. That level of consistency doesn’t happen by accident—thank you to Production and Transportation across all locations for the hard work and coordination that help support our customers every day.

We’re also excited to continue expanding our footprint with two new distributors this year—one serving the far west region in Collins, Ohio, and another in Aurora. Both locations are off to a strong start and helping increase product availability throughout the region.

The Sales Team remains busy quoting projects, submitting bids, and building relationships with cities, contractors, developers, and municipalities as we pursue every opportunity to grow.

Current Projects Include:

• Cleveland Metroparks & Irish Town Bend
• Saline Buildings and associated locations
• Aurora Park
• Stow Amphitheater
• Cuyahoga County Jail
• Main Line Gas Installs throughout Cuyahoga County
• Lakewood Bunts Rd.
• North Marginal Rd.
• Stow Hudson Villas
• Sagamore Hills Subdivision
• Macedonia Subdivision Installations
• Ryan Homes projects in Olmsted Falls & Brunswick
• Akron Main Street
• City of Cleveland Streets & Cemeteries
• Catholic Cemeteries

And there’s still more ahead.

As the season continues to build momentum, one thing remains true: success starts with relationships, responsiveness, and delivering value to our customers every day.

After all, nothing happens until somebody sells something. Do I sound like a broken record? (Some of you probably don’t even know what a record is!)

We are continuing to process yard waste in North Canton, along with producing colored mulch and topsoil.

Bridgeview currently has a large sand project underway, with 48 semis running continuously throughout the day. In addition, operations continue with grinding, screening, mulch coloring, and topsoil production.

Avon remains active with grinding, screening, and topsoil production as well.

Broadview is filling up quickly with material that requires grinding. If we can keep the new grinder operating reliably, we will get there as soon as possible to begin processing material.

We are absolutely crushing it this month! Our incredible transportation department has already moved a whopping 4,800 loads. A massive shoutout goes to our single-axle drivers, who conquered tight spaces to nail 2,100 of those deliveries. Thank you all for your hard work, grit, and dedication to keeping our customers happy—let’s keep this amazing momentum going.

May Sales Highlights

May has been a strong month across several categories, with exciting momentum throughout our retail and contractor divisions.

Product & Sales Highlights

Since introducing 57 Slag we have sold 753 yards!

High Format Hardscape Vendor Success

Our new hardscape vendor, High Format, continues to perform exceptionally well and is gaining strong customer interest.

Pick Row Growth

The Pick Row category, including natural stone and boulders, is currently up 30% year-to-date.

Tool Department Performance

Tool sales are up 8% year-to-date, showing continued customer demand and strong team engagement.

Mulch Mule Success Stories

Since introducing the Mulch Mule, we successfully facilitated the sale of three Mulch Mules.

Congratulations to our finder’s fee recipients:

• Kelly – North Canton
• Amy – Hudson
• Tim – Akron

Your efforts and customer relationships continue to drive success across our branches.

Operations Spotlight

The Federal Reserve recently delivered shredded currency material to the Valley View location to support testing for a new bulk bagging process experiment. This unique project highlights the innovative partnerships and operational capabilities within our team.

Merchandising & Customer Experience

Displays continue to make a major impact by creating a more engaging shopping experience and helping generate additional sales opportunities.

With May being one of our busiest retail customer months, our teams are focused on:

• Upselling and cross-selling opportunities
• Following up with visitors and customers
• Maintaining attractive, well-stocked displays
• Delivering excellent customer service

Thank you to everyone for the continued hard work and dedication helping make this a successful season.

We’re excited to announce our new partnership with the Akron Zoo. Through this collaboration, Kurtz Bros. will help support wildlife conservation efforts while continuing to strengthen our community partnerships across Northeast Ohio.

Have you seen us featured recently on the socials for Cleveland Scene? Check out the post below, and keep an eye out for an upcoming interview they did with our very own Steve Safreed!

As many of you know, the launch of our new website and ecommerce platform has brought a lot of positive changes, but also a few growing pains. We are still running into occasional issues getting all of our systems to communicate consistently. Karen and I are actively working with our partners and developers to improve these integrations and create a smoother experience for both employees and customers. We appreciate everyone’s patience and feedback as we continue refining the platform.

Did You Know?

Our product pages now include supporting materials, specifications, guides, and videos whenever available to help make our website a better resource for both customers and employees.

Check out a few examples:

• All Purpose Topsoil
• General Landscape Fabric SB3

We will continue building out the remaining product pages over time with the goal of making Kurtz-Bros.com an industry-leading resource center for product information, education, and support.

Content Feedback

Thank you for those who provided feedback on the content we include in The Dirt.  We are making enhancements to incorporate the ideas we received from you!

Congratulations to Cindy Sapp (R&M – Main Office) for responding to the survey and winning the Guardian’s tickets!  She and her family had a great time at the game on May 12th! Check out our “Around KB” section for the cutest photo 🙂 Next time, this could be YOU!   

Employee Highlights ~ Birthdays, Anniversaries, & Employee of the Month! 

Check out the highlights for the month here:

Employee Birthdays & Anniversaries
Around KB
Department Spotlights

Survey Action Items

Earlier this month, we shared the results of our engagement survey along with the action items we are implementing in response to your feedback.

One of those action items is monthly site visits from members of the SLT. During these visits, we encourage you to take the opportunity to engage and share your feedback. We want to hear what is working well, what is not working well, and any ideas or suggestions you may have.

With 12 sites and 8 SLT members, there will be some months where a site may not have a scheduled visitor. Our goal is to maintain regular engagement across all locations throughout the year.

Missed the e-mail?  Find the details in the ADP Newsfeed!  

On the desktop version – the news feed is on the home page. 

Safety First

As we continue through the year, we want to remind everyone of the importance of slowing down and working safely each day. Several of our sites have experienced accidents or incidents this year, and while each situation may be different, safety remains a shared responsibility across all locations and teams.

Taking a few extra moments to stay aware of your surroundings, follow procedures, use proper equipment, and communicate concerns can make a significant difference. No task is so urgent that it cannot be done safely.

Let’s continue looking out for one another and keeping safety at the forefront of everything we do.

Remember to check out this month’s Safety Corner!

Benefit Highlight of the Month

Forgot your ID cards? Need to find a provider?  Wondering what a procedure will cost you? 

Download the Health Joy app and access everything in one place – you can even get help from a Healthcare Concierge! 

Everything in the app is specific to YOU and your benefits. 

Around KB

We are looking for more submissions for the Around KB!  We want to highlight our employees outside of work.  Send your pictures or updates to hr@kurtz-bros.com.

We’re excited to welcome both our new hires and returning seasonal team members as we gear up for another busy season. Thank you for bringing your energy, hard work, and dedication to the team—we’re glad to have you with us!

Check out this month’s Helping You, a guide from UMR: