WINTHROP, Minn. — United Farmers Cooperative (UFC) has reached an agreement to sell its seven United Xpress convenience stores to FillMeUp Group, which operates retail outlets under the FillMeUp brand.
The United Xpress locations are in Gaylord, Gibbon, Green Isle, Lafayette, New Auburn, New Germany and Winthrop, Minn. The current United Xpress employees will have the opportunity to transition to the FillMeUp Group at the time of closing. The new owner will rebrand the locations as FillMeUp and will continue to carry Cenex-brand fuels.
UFC will continue to supply its customers with refined fuels, propane and other energy products for agricultural, commercial and home use. UFC will retain its fueling stations without c-stores in LeSueur, Klossner and Brownton, Minn., which will continue to use the current UFC Co-op Cash Card.
FillMeUp will introduce a new loyalty card program for the acquired c-stores.
The companies said they expect the transaction to close May 29.
“The sale of these seven convenience stores is consistent with UFC’s need to focus long term on our businesses,” said Scott Sinclair, general manager for the cooperative. “We look forward to working with the FillMeUp Group to achieve a seamless transition for the valued convenience-store team members as they become employees of the new organization.”
“We look forward to working with the teams on how best to untap the huge potential within each location, as well as building out strong relationships with the local communities,” said FillMeUp Group President Ashvin Patel.
“We will also work with employees to ensure they have the right tools and resources to serve our customers in the best ways possible,” he said. “The FillMeUp Group will continue to build upon the great work that UFC has done within the community.”
UFC is a farmer-owned cooperative based in Winthrop, Minn., that supplies its agricultural member-owners and other customers in several south central Minnesota counties with agronomic services, grain marketing, livestock feed, fuel and energy products, agricultural equipment, related technology services, hardware, home and garden centers, and a power equipment business.
The FillMeUp Group is a Minneapolis-based firm with more than 30 years of experience in the retail, hospitality and technology sectors. It is partnering with Cenex-United Farmers Express for fuel.
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