Lube News

Maine Lubrication Service Joins Windward

Tue, 7 Dec 2004 09:34:52 -0500

MANCHESTER, NH, December 7, 2004 - Windward Petroleum, the leading distributor of lubricants and petroleum specialty products in the United States and Maine Lubrication Service, Inc. of Westbrook, ME, the most comprehensive lubricants distributor in northern New England today announced that they are joining forces and combining their businesses in order to enhance their product and service offering to their customers and to create the most effective and efficient lubricants and related products distribution system throughout New England.

"Maine Lubrication has a 25 year history of providing leading edge technical solutions to its customers' lubrication needs and has built its reputation on attentive customer service and prompt deliveries." says Windward founder, Michael C. Spoor, "The combination of this great tradition with the exceptional systems and operational infrastructure that Windward has built to serve its larger multi-regional operations will provide additional opportunities for customers to benefit from our capabilities."

In New England, Windward operates from facilities in Manchester, NH and Hampden, ME while Maine Lubrication Service services its customers from locations in Westbrook, ME, Hermon, ME, Worcester, MA, Rutland, VT and St. Johnsbury, VT. Over time the new organization will adopt the image and identification that Windward uses throughout the country.

Since 1999, when Windward began growing its lubricants distribution business both organically and through acquisition, it grown to become the nation's largest distributor of lubricants and related products, with annual revenues of $250 million and 22 distribution centers throughout the eastern and central United States.

Windward Acquires Casey Petroleum

Fri, 17 Oct 2003 11:03:30 -0400

MANCHESTER, NH, October 17, 2003 - Windward Petroleum, the leading distributor of lubricants and petroleum specialty products in the United States today announced its acquisition of the Casey Petroleum Division of Alliance Energy. Casey, located in Needham, MA, has, for years, been the leading supplier of commercial and industrial lubricants throughout its market area. The business will be combined with the already substantial lubricants business that Windward does from its 106,000 square foot facility in Manchester, NH.

"The combination of our existing business with the Casey business will create some really exciting opportunities for the collective customer base to enjoy enhanced service, programs, and technical support." says Mike Spoor, acquisitions leader for Windward. "The opportunity to unite what is best from a really excellent commercial and industrial lubricants distributor like Casey with the truly premier automotive lubricant offering that has been Windward's traditional strength in this market makes this a true win for all involved," he says.

The Casey sales team brings over 125 years of lubricant selling experience to Windward.

Since its founding in 1998, Windward has become that nation's fastest growing distributor of lubricants and related products, with annual revenues of more than $200 million. Windward makes over 1,200 lubricant deliveries daily into 21 states.

Windward Acquires Quality Lubricants & Lubrication Specialists

Fri, 27 Jun 2003 10:49:47 -0400

MANCHESTER, NH, June 27, 2003 – Windward Petroleum, the leading distributor of lubricants and petroleum specialty products throughout a number of markets in the eastern United States today announced its acquisition of two lubricant distribution companies in the Florida. The business of Quality Lubricants and Lubrication Specialists, operating out of Crestview, Florida and Tuscaloosa, Alabama will be added to Windward’s growing presence throughout the Southeast.

“Quality has had a long reputation for providing exceptional technical assistance and excellent service to commercial and industrial customers throughout the region” says Windward’s Southeastern Region Manager, Henry Williams, “which will be a great complement to the strong automotive business that has been our traditional strength in this marketplace.” Windward expects to continue to provide the high quality ExxonMobil and BPCastrol products that Quality Lubricants and Lubrication Specialists have brought to the market respectively. Windward has been operating throughout Alabama, northern Florida and much of Georgia since it acquired Jackson Oil Products in 2000. Jackson has a 50-year history in the marketplace. Windward has recently added the lubricants business of Dixie Oil and Equipment Sales in Tallahassee, FL.

Since the acquired business of Quality Lubricants and Lubrication Specialists is completely within the geographic area currently served by Windward, customers should see increased delivery capabilities, broader inventories from which to draw, and the IT benefits of Windward’s nationwide Daly.commerce information systems platform. “Our team leaders believe that joining forces with Windward will enhance the future of our business and will offer opportunities for personal advancement that are unparalleled in the industry. We are excited about the prospects!” says Don Sharpe, President of Quality Lubricants.

Windward began acquiring lubricants distribution businesses in 1999 and since then has grown to become one of the nation’s largest distributors of lubricants and related products, with annual revenues of more than $190 million and operations throughout the southern United States, parts of the mid-Atlantic region, and much of New England.

Windward Grows its Presence in Pennsylvania & Ohio

Tue, 1 Apr 2003 10:41:47 -0500

MANCHESTER, NH, April 1, 2003 - Windward Petroleum, the leading distributor of lubricants and petroleum specialty products throughout a number of markets in the eastern United States today announced its acquisition of the lubricants business of the Guttman Oil Company in Pittsburgh, PA. The western Pennsylvania marketplace is the home of Windward's first acquisition, made in 1999, and has long been a market in which the Company has been seeking expansion. The new business will be served from Windward's recently expanded 50,000 square foot distribution center in New Stanton, PA as well as from the facility in Erie, PA that was built by Guttman in 1995.

"Historically, automotive, commercial and industrial lubricants distribution in this marketplace has been fragmented among many small distributors. With this acquisition, Windward's increased scale will allow it to offer a new level of products and services that have been unavailable in the market until now." says Windward founder Mike Spoor. "Our superior delivery logistics, enhanced inventory levels and high quality marketing programs will bring more value to the customers throughout the region than they have had access to in the past." In addition to continuing to provide high quality ExxonMobil and Kendall products to the newly acquired customers, Windward will also bring a variety of new ancillary products and services to the market.

The Guttman Oil Company will continue to operate its fuel and convenience store operations as well as its numerous other businesses. "The Guttman lubricant organization has long been viewed by the marketplace as a value-added distributor. We, at Windward, are excited to bring the sales staff and customers of Guttman into our organization" says Bob Carlisle, Windward's regional manager. Bob joined Windward in November of 2002 in anticipation of Windward's upcoming expansion in the marketplace. He brings with him 25 years of experience in the lubricants marketing industry with the Pennzoil Products Company, is a native of Western Pennsylvania and a graduate of Grove City College.

Since its founding in 1998, Windward has grown to become one of the nation's largest distributors of lubricants and related products, with annual revenues of more than $175 million. From its 16 facilities throughout markets in the eastern and central United States, Windward serves over 25,000 automotive, commercial and industrial customers in 21 states.

Windward Hires New CFO

Fri, 1 Nov 2002 10:35:28 -0500

MANCHESTER, NH, November 1, 2002 - Windward Petroleum, one of the largest and fastest growing distributors of lubricating oils and related products in the United States announced today that it has hired Robert J. Coffey as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Coffey will succeed Bill Baum who did not relocate with the Company when it moved its headquarters from Charlotte, NC to Manchester, NH recently. Mr. Coffey is a seasoned financial executive skilled in all phases of financial and accounting management including strategic planning, systems implementation, acquisitions, capital funding, financial reporting, risk and treasury management, GAAP and banking and shareholder relations. His experience includes domestic and international assignments in the automotive and manufacturing industries. Bob earned his undergraduate degree and MBA from SUNY, Buffalo and has been a CPA since 1978.

"We are thrilled to have Bob join the team," says Andy Welcher, Windward President and CEO, "his mix of experience, talents and enthusiasm will be put to immediate use in our rapidly growing company. With the employment market in its current condition, we had the luxury of being able to look at a lot of capable candidates. We are convinced that Bob is the right person to help us reach our aggressive growth plans over the next several years."

Since 1999, Windward has acquired a number of distributors of lubricants and related products and currently serves customers from 16 distribution centers throughout a number of markets in the eastern and central United States. The Company plans to continue to grow organically and through acquisition during the next several years and in doing so, it will provide an increasingly superior set of products and services to customers throughout the region that it serves. Key to the success of the Company will be Mr. Coffey's leadership in many aspects of the acquisition and integration process, from managing the capitalization and funding of the transactions to the integration of accounting and operating systems into Windward's processes. He will have responsibility for all of the accounting and other functions in Windward's processing center which is located in Jackson, MS.