All of the sitescurrently branded Texacowill have the new Gulf "Sunrise" image. It will be first time since 1986 that the Gulf flag will fly in North Carolina, Guld said in a statement.
"What we see is an opportunity for growth with the Gulf brand," Lexington-based Hill Oil president Mayne Hill told the The [image-nocss] Dispatch. "It's a different era, but it brings back a lot of fond memories for customers. It's iconic. It's a good company with a good product and people."
Hill said the existing stations will be refurbished and receive new signage starting in mid-June with completion set for early July. "It'll be a whole new image change," he said.
"My father founded Hill Oil in 1957 with a single Gulf service station in the city of Midway [N.C.]. This partnership opens up another chapter for us, and we are very excited to return to the Gulf family. We are looking forward to a long and successful partnership," Andy Hill, CEO of Hill Oil, said in the statement.
Mayne Hill told the Dispatch he estimates that construction of the new station and convenience store, which will also have two retail spaces for lease, will begin in late summer or fall and open around the first of the year. The c-store will be 3,000 square feet, and the retail spaces are 1,500 square feet and 1,250 square feet of space.
Hill Oil also owns a Pure Oil brand gas station in Midway, which will not change.
"Returning to North Carolina demonstrates the sustainable positive recognition Gulf has built over the years across the United States," Gulf Oil senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer Rick Dery said in the statement. "We remain committed to high standards and working with loyal partners, such as Hill Oil Co., to bring the Gulf brand back to its nationwide presence, and offer quality customer service that people expect from Gulf."
Gulf Oil president and COO Ron Sabia added, "With more than six million drivers in the state, operating in North Carolina is a milestone that strengthens our reputation. Since acquiring the full brand rights from Chevron in January, we also have made significant inroads in Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky. We will continue our steady expansion and momentum as a premium nationwide gasoline retailer."
(Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage of Gulf's rebranding efforts.)
In January 21010, Gulf Oil, a whole owned subsidiary of Cumberland Farms Inc., acquired from San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron all rights, title and interest to the Gulf gasoline brand in the United States from Chevron USA Inc., opening up the door to expansion opportunities across the country.
The deal comes on the heels of Chevronwhich owns the Texaco brandannouncing in December 2009 its plans to withdraw retail operations from some areas of the eastern United States, including Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., and parts of Tennessee. Approximately 1,100 independently owned and operated retail stations will eventually be debranded.
Chevron said that it expect all of the stations to continue operating under other brands and to have programs in place to assist retailers with the transition. It expected to complete the planned market exits by mid-year 2010.
(Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage of Chevron's withdrawl.)
Gulf Oil, based in Framingham, Mass., is one of the Northeast's largest wholesalers of refined petroleum products. Gulf Oil distributes motor fuels through a network of more than 2,000 branded gasoline retail centers, 12 proprietary oil terminals and a network of more than 50 other supply terminals. Gulf Oil supplies gasoline, heating oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel and kerosene through its Gulf Oil terminal network. Through its unbranded subsidiary, Great Island Energy, Gulf Oil also supplies petroleum products as well as risk management and financial services to industrial, commercial and independent retail firms.
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.