WICHITA — Almost a year ago, Foley Industries president Ann Konecny told Have You Heard? there was a chance her company would purchase Topeka’s Martin Tractor.
Now, it’s happening.
Konecny says the deal to buy her rival Caterpillar dealer should close Nov. 2.
“This basically gives Foley the entire state except for one county in southeast Kansas and five counties around Kansas City,” Konecny says.
Previously, the two companies each had about half the state.
Martin, a 98-year-old company, has between 250 and 300 employees.
“The vast majority of them have been extended offers, and the ones who haven’t will be receiving severance,” Konecny says.
Foley, which was founded in 1940, and Martin sell numerous brands of construction and agricultural equipment and engines.
Martin’s various companies will be integrated into Foley Equipment, Foley Engine Systems, Foley Rental, Foley Farm Power and Foley Rebuild Center.
“We’re happy to be joining (with) such a strong company,” Konecny says. She thinks the companies will “be able to better serve our customers by combining the strengths of both organizations.”
Konecny says Foley and Martin have been good competitors — and friends — for a long time.
“It was probably a natural evolution that the territories got consolidated somewhere, somehow.”