Hyannis, Massachusetts—Dick Fairbanks, president and owner of Orleans Auto Supply, has announced that his company has been acquired by Genuine Parts Corporation (GPC).
The sale will be finalized on May 1, 2019.
“I have had this business for 46 years and have developed great relationships with so many terrific customers. Although I am looking forward to new challenges, it’s bittersweet,” said Fairbanks.
“Genuine Parts Corporation is a premier auto parts company. I wanted to sell Orleans Auto Supply to a company that would build on our success, continue to serve our customers on a personal level and treat our employees with the same respect as I have.”
Fairbanks will remain involved for several months to help ensure a smooth transition. Fairbanks also said Orleans Auto Supply employees will continue to manage the stores and handle customer service.
Orleans Auto Supply will continue to operate four locations on Cape Cod: Dennis Port, Falmouth, Orleans and Hyannis. The Orleans Auto Supply name and product lines will remain and the company will continue to operate as a standalone company.
GPC, a $19 billion company based in Atlanta, Georgia, owns many independent auto parts stores across the United States. They specialize in the distribution of automotive replacement parts, serve customers from more than 2,600 locations around the world and have 48,000 employees.
Fairbanks, whose family founded Orleans Auto Supply in 1973, built the company into a success story. His mission has been to be the region’s leading supplier of automotive parts and supplies.
In 1997, Fairbanks was appointed to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Automotive Committee and served as co-chair in 1998. In 1999, he was appointed to the executive committee of the Board of Directors of AAIA. He served during 2014 and 2015 as the Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA). AWDA undertakes initiatives for, and protects the interests of, independent distributors nationally.
Fairbanks has been actively engaged in the local community. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cape & Islands United Way. He has also held various board positions in other local nonprofit human service agencies.
