LEXINGTON, KY — Valvoline has announced an agreement with retailer Group 1 Automotive, Inc., that will see Valvoline premium products offered at the company’s U.S. dealerships.

The marketing and supply agreement is the latest announcement related to the Ashland Inc. division’s increasing emphasis on North America’s "do-it- for-me" business. "We see this agreement as a complement to Group 1’s quality customer service," said Valvoline President Sam Mitchell. "Providing premium solutions to dealerships and their customers is a key to our DIFM business strategy."

Houston-based Group 1 Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 500 automotive retailer, owns and operates nearly 100 dealerships that sell 32 brands of automobiles in the U.S.

"Our relationship with an iconic American brand like Valvoline will further strengthen our customer service experience and standardize our business processes to improve the performance of our dealerships," said Earl Hesterberg, Group 1’s president and chief executive officer. "Through this supplier relationship we are streamlining our supply chain, leveraging our scale and continuing to deliver value to our shareholders."

To learn more about Valvoline, a division of Ashland, visit: http://www.ashland.com.

For more information about Group 1 Automotive, go to: http://www.group1auto.com.