Seller stories from propane retailers

Every propane merger and acquisition has a story. Every closed deal is tied to a key decision, a life-changing event or the realization from company leaders that the path forward must change. The status quo simply can’t hold.

This year, LP Gas interviewed seven propane retailers who sold their businesses in the past 12 months to learn about their decisions to sell. Some chose to exit the business completely, while others remain involved. Each has their own, personal story.

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Serious discussion with colleagues leads Pennsylvania retailer to sell

Ron Kukuchka will never forget when the general manager and controller of his company – Ace-Robbins in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania – walked into his office. By the looks on their faces, he knew it was serious. They were concerned about Kukuchka, who had been working long hours while struggling with health issues.

“They said, ‘You have to sell the company, because if you don’t, they’re going to carry you out of here,’” Kukuchka says. “I said, ‘OK, but you have to help me.’”

Ace-Robbins, a heating oil and propane provider serving northeast Pennsylvania, asked Cetane Associates to conduct a buyer search. In June 2025, Ace-Robbins was sold to Blueox Corp., an Oxford, New York-based energy company.

Kukuchka, 72, is now fully retired. He and his wife Abby, who was secretary-treasurer of Ace-Robbins, are planning to travel in their motor home.

At first, it wasn’t easy to let go. Kukuchka and his wife bought Ace-Robbins in 1982 from one of the company’s founders, Frank Robbins. Both men were volunteer firefighters in Tunkhannock. Robbins was in his 60s and wanted to retire, and no family members were waiting in the wings to take over. Kukuchka was in his late 20s.

“My wife and I had nothing,” Kukuchka says. “We lived in an apartment and had a car payment. I bought Ace-Robbins 100 percent financed.”

The Kukuchkas expanded Ace-Robbins’ services. They started selling and installing appliances.

“My goal was to ‘own the house,’ so that we could provide everything a home needed,” Kukuchka says. “That went well.”

That’s why Blueox was a good fit. In addition to delivering propane and other fuels, it installs home appliances and equipment.

Kukuchka advises anyone thinking of selling their company in two to three years to prepare now and find a good broker.

“You think you’re running your company well, but once they start diving in as deep as they go into your financials, operations and equipment, it really opens your eyes,” he says.

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Michigan retailer refocuses on personal and family life

Christopher Caywood’s family business changed focus more than once over the decades. His grandfather and uncle, Richard and Robert Varner, launched the company in the 1930s as a horseshoeing concern. The business later shifted to selling retail gasoline, then heating oil.

Caywood’s parents, James and Dolores Caywood, added propane to the mix in 1984, and the company eventually became Caywood Propane Gas. It’s still around today, serving southcentral and southeastern Michigan and a small section of northern Ohio.

The younger Caywood became president in 1997, and in 2015, he began preparing for another big change – Caywood Propane would move away from commercial and agricultural propane and focus more on residential. The company would also invest in new technology with the idea of modernizing and growing.

Then came an unexpected event: Caywood’s wife Stacey Caywood was promoted to CEO and chair of the executive board at Wolters Kluwer, a global information service company.

“It made sense to sell the family business so I could focus on making sure that our personal and family life was in order while Stacey pursued this new role,” says Caywood, 65.

Caywood was prepared. He believes that a business should always be ready for sale. He kept customer files in order and closely tracked inventory.

In September 2025, Caywood sold Caywood Propane to Crystal Flash, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based deliverer of propane, diesel, lubricants and other fuel products.

Caywood says he chose a buyer that allowed him to make a quick exit from the company while also providing stability and quickly integrating Caywood Propane.

Meanwhile, to stay involved in the industry, Caywood joined the board of directors at Guardian Propane Partners.

Caywood advises, “If you might want to sell your business in five to seven years, you should start now. If you have no plans to sell, you might want to start anyway, because you never know what’s ahead.”

Also, potential sellers should think about what kind of company they would like to buy their business.

“Selling a business is like applying for colleges,” Caywood says. “It’s not a prize to be won; it’s a match to be made.”

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