Pri Mar divests retail operations in dual transaction

Blarney Castle acquires convenience and wholesale fuel business; Merle Boes takes over delivered fuels and lubricants division.

Pri Mar Petroleum has completed the sale of its petroleum marketing and convenience retail business to Blarney Castle Oil, and its delivered fuels and lubricants division to Merle Boes. The third-generation family-owned fuel distributor and convenience retailer is based in southwestern Michigan.

The company, which operates 13 Pri Mart-branded c-stores and supplies fuel to 12 wholesale dealers under the bp, Amoco, and Citgo brands, also serves over 2,000 commercial and residential customers with fuel and lubricant deliveries from three bulk plant facilities. 

The dual-transaction reflects a major transition for the legacy business, founded in 1928 by Harry Priebe and which remained under Marzke family leadership for nearly a century.

“On behalf of our employees and the Marzke family, we are very pleased with how the sale of our business was handled,” said Kurt Marzke, CEO of Pri Mar. “We are proud of what we've built and confident that both Blarney Castle and Merle Boes will carry the legacy forward with the same dedication to service and community.”

Founded as a petroleum distributor for farm and industrial customers, Pri Mar opened its first convenience store in 1976 in Stevensville, Michigan. The business steadily grew under the leadership of the Marzke family, eventually employing around 120 team members and becoming a key player in the local fuel and retail market.