AUBURN, Calif. — Northern California fuel distributor Flyers Energy LLC has signed a multistation wholesale contract with SAMCO Food Stores and has reimaged three SAMCO convenience stores under the Shell brand. Each reimaging package comes with a 10-year distribution deal with Flyers Transportation.
Bakersfield, Calif.-based SAMCO has nine locations, all in Bakersfield.
“Each deal requires a creative approach to determine and satisfy the needs of the station owner and the wants of the brand,” said Shelly Thomas, Flyers Energy wholesale manager. “When it's time to renew their contract, owners often have their sights on a specific brand, but it may not be the best match for the station.”
Major distributors may have specific requirements such as minimum volumes, driveway access, number of dispensers and a minimum distance from sites of the same brand. Flyers routinely assesses the station owner's needs and challenges to choose the right brand partner for that location.
“A wholesale contract represents a long-term relationship, not a quick score. We want to have a respectful partnership with the dealer so that it benefits all parties. The dealer's success is what we consider a win,” said Jay Galvin, Flyers Energy's director of sales and marketing.
Flyers, based in Auburn, Calif., represents five fuel brands—Chevron, Shell, Valero, 76 and Flyers—at approximately 120 independent fuel stations. Flyers Energy distributes about 2 million gallons of fuel per day via wholesale deliveries and cardlock sites and fuel networks. Operations include transportation, commercial fueling on the Commercial Fueling Network (CFN), Quick Fuel, Voyager and Pacific Pride networks; distribution of Mobil brand passenger-car, heavy-duty and industrial lubricants; supply of wholesale and branded fuel; and generation of renewable fuels and power in the United States.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.