Five Star Cooperative Expands Service and Value for Members with Acquisition of NAPA Auto Parts Store
Riceville, Iowa – Five Star Cooperative announced that it has acquired the Riceville NAPA Auto Parts store effective September 1, expanding access to automotive, equipment, and sprayer parts while creating efficiencies that strengthen the cooperative and deliver long-term value to its members.
The acquisition aligns with Five Star Cooperative’s commitment to investing in services that help farmers, businesses, and rural communities succeed. By adding the Riceville NAPA Auto Parts location to its operations, Five Star will expand access to critical parts and services while helping manage rising operating costs across the cooperative.
Tony Myers, Five Star Cooperative General Manager, said, “Bringing the Riceville NAPA store into Five Star Cooperative is a vital step in our continued growth and diversification. This addition allows us to offer broader, more economical services to our members and the surrounding communities, ultimately helping to control operational costs for their operations and our own.”
A key component of the transition is continuity for customers. Current owner, Neal Keeling, will continue leading the Riceville NAPA location. Keeling has served the Riceville community for more than 23 years and will remain an important part of the business moving forward. He was raised in town and graduated from Riceville. His four children have all been raised in the community. He has served 8 years on the Riceville School Board and Riceville Care Facility Board.
“Living and serving the residents of Riceville and the surrounding area has become a very rewarding way of life. I look forward to continuing to serve the area with the help of Five Star Cooperative,” states Neal Keeling, current owner.
Expanded Access to Parts and Services
The acquisition provides Five Star members and customers with expanded access to automotive and equipment parts, helping reduce downtime and keep operations running efficiently.
The Riceville NAPA Auto Parts location will expand access to locally stocked sprayer parts, giving farmers in Riceville and surrounding communities another convenient source for agricultural sprayer parts, nozzles, fittings, pumps, valves, and repair components. The location will build upon the extensive inventory and expertise already available through the Five Star Country Store, North Iowa’s largest sprayer parts provider, helping customers reduce downtime and keep equipment operating efficiently throughout the growing season.
In addition, members will continue to have access to popular pre-spring and fall oil and filter promotions, with convenient ordering and pickup available through Five Star locations along with additional promotions throughout the year.
Strengthening the Cooperative
Beyond the direct customer benefits, the acquisition creates operational efficiencies that help strengthen the cooperative.
Operating the NAPA location allows Five Star to purchase many of the automotive, equipment, and maintenance parts used across its agronomy, grain, feed, energy, and retail operations more efficiently and at a lower cost. These savings help offset rising expenses, mitigate increases in the cost of serving members, and support continued investment in facilities, equipment, technology, and people.
As a member-owned cooperative, Five Star continually evaluates opportunities that create value for members while ensuring the long-term strength of the organization.
“The Board of Directors considers and evaluates strategic opportunities for the cooperative,” Tom Shatek, Five Star Cooperative Board of Directors President comments. “The Riceville NAPA store purchase is one that we feel will add value to the Coop and its members.”
The Riceville NAPA acquisition represents another step in that commitment by expanding services, improving convenience, and supporting the success of members throughout North Iowa.
Five Star Cooperative is a proud farmer-owned agricultural cooperative spanning across 15 counties with 19 locations in North Iowa that provides agronomy, feed, grain, energy, and retail products and services to their members and customers. They have been empowering farmers in their pursuit of yielding success for over 100 years. Visit www.fivestarcoop.com for more information. Follow Five Star Coop on social media for the latest happenings. Facebook X YouTube LinkedIn
