MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury distributor of John Deere and other brand farm equipment has been sold to a larger chain of stores that sells new and used equipment to farmers, commercial landscapers, builders, and homeowners.
United Ag & Turf of East Windsor, Conn., announced this week that it had purchased Mountain View Equipment, which has showrooms in Middlebury and three other locations. The buy declined to divulge the terms of the deal.
Mountain View Equipment was formed Jan. 1, 2012, when Hendy Brothers, founded more than 60 years ago in Middlebury, merged with Giroux Brothers Equipment of Plattsburg and Malone. N.Y. The new company, called Mountain View Equipment, also had a dealership in Rutland.
Amanda Stanton, marketing manager for United Ag, said the deal for her company to buy Mountain View closed April 1. She didn’t expect a lot of changes for customers or employees.
“Our current intent is to keep all current employees, as well as facilities,” she told the Independent.
She said most of the brands that United Ag support are ones that Mountain View already carries.
“Mountain View Equipment’s knowledge, experience, talent and processes will integrate with United Ag & Turf Northeast’s well,” Stanton said. “As a new organization that merged 10 dealer groups with 25 locations together last year at the same time, we are very sensitive to the merger process and have support teams from all departments ensuring a smooth transition for our new team members.”
Stanton said Mountain View, and therefore its customers, will benefit from the acquisition by getting:
• Increased buying power, selection and special John Deere pricing.
• Improved parts availability.
• Improved service expertise.
• Expanded used equipment offerings.
“While the name has changed, customers will still work with the same great people who have been providing family service, quality and integrity to their communities for decades,” Stanton said. “United Ag & Turf now employs over 500 employees in the Northeast region.”