Brecksville, OH – True North Energy LLC, a joint venture between the Lyden family and Shell Oil Company, has successfully closed on the purchase of 15 Fee Owned convenience retailing and petroleum marketing assets of Wagner Shell Company and its affiliates in the Green Bay, WI market. The transaction does not include Wagner Oil Company’s wholesale fuel business. This acquisition comes just three years after True North’s entry into Wisconsin and as the Lyden family celebrates 105 years in business.
The Wagner Stores were owned by Mellissa Wagner and family. “The network of stores built by Howie and Melissa Wagner present a great opportunity for truenorth to expand our brand in Wisconsin, while adding excellent facilities to our portfolio.” according to Mark Lyden, True North’s President and CEO.
Wagner Oil was originally started in the 1950’s by Harvey Wagner until the 1970’s when Howard (Howie) Wagner became involved and began building their first convenience stores. In 1984 Wagner Oil made the conversion to being a Shell Oil company and continued to grow the sale of Shell Oil gallons and building additional convenience stores.
Melissa Wagner said the sale of the stores is bittersweet. She and Howie enjoyed building and operating the convenience stores, but Melissa knew the time was right to step away from the business and pursue other interests.
The newly acquired stores will continue to fly the Shell Fuel Brand but the company will reimage the convenience stores to the truenorth brand according to Lyden. “True North will continue to provide area customers with quality products, exceptional service and competitive fuel prices, as we realize customers have a choice where they purchase their fuel and convenience items.”
True North Energy now offers fuel and convenience items at 186 company operated stores, in addition to supplying fuel to 300 Shell, BP, Amoco, Marathon and Arco branded dealers. The company has an ever-growing footprint with stores primarily located in the Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, Youngstown, Detroit, Traverse City and Green Bay markets.
John Wagner and family will continue to own Wagner Oil Company’s Wholesale Fuel and Transportation businesses, which were not part of the transaction.
