Southern Ontario Kubota dealer chain sold

A chain of Kubota dealerships in southern Ontario is selling its three links to two separate new owners.

Earth Power Tractors and Equipment, owned in partnership by Jim Kelly and Jeff Cook since 2005, said Thursday it has a deal in place to sell its sites at Owen Sound and nearby Meaford to Robert’s Farm Equipment, which has Kubota dealerships at Chesley, Lucknow and Mount Forest.

The third Earth Power dealership, at Stayner, about 35 km west of Barrie, will go separately to Stewart’s Equipment, which has Kubota dealerships at Erin and Cookstown. Both acquisitions are expected to take effect July 1.

Kelly, who first purchased the company in 1998, died last year, and “we took some time to reflect and decided that now is the right time for us to sell our operations,” Earth Power spokesperson Cindy Barton, Kelly’s daughter, said in a release.

“Both dealer groups align with our core values not only from a sales and service standpoint, but also in how they work and interact with staff,” she said. “We expect that this business transition will be seamless for our customers.”

Yannick Montagano, Kubota Canada’s vice-president for sales, marketing, service and engineering, said the company supported Earth Power’s decision to sell the chain, adding the manufacturer is “very proud of the customer and community engagement from Earth Power” and endorses the dealerships’ new ownerships.

Earth Power, a full-service tractor and construction equipment chain whose customer base covers Grey, Bruce and Simcoe counties, deals mainly in Kubota but also supports “select complimentary short lines” including Vermeer, Merlo, Land Pride and Walker Mowers, among others.

“There was an opportunity for us to work with Earth Power and keep that business thriving. Our thought was, if we can continue to develop the Kubota brand in Grey and Bruce counties, then we should,” Robert’s president Brian Osterndorff said in a separate release.

Robert’s said the Owen Sound and Meaford shops will get new names and branding in July but their employees have been “guaranteed gainful employment” with the new owner and the locations will otherwise remain as they are.

Similarly, Stewart’s president Jeff Stewart, in a separate release, said the Stayner facility’s location, staff and operations will remain the same.

“We look forward to meeting and working with everyone in Stayner and the surrounding area,” Stewart said. “Kubota is a great brand, and together we are looking forward to continued support of their products within the local community.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network