AUSTIN, Texas & FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- "Texans will see many more of our iconic orange disks on fuel stations throughout the state in the near future, and we are committed and dedicated to restoring a major presence of the brand in the state," said Gulf Oil LP senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer Rick Dery. "Opening our first service stations in the state where the legend was born is probably the most meaningful event for our company since announcing our national expansion."
As reported yesterday in a Morgan Keegan/CSP Daily News Flash, [image-nocss] Gulf Oil announced that it is returning to Texas through a partnership with MTG Management of Central Texas for the branding of five gas stations in and around Austin to the Gulf "Sunrise" brand.
The company, born more than 110 years ago, began on a small oil field called Spindletop in Beaumont, Texas, but has not been flying a flag in the state for decades.
"MTG Management is pleased to be the first Gulf Oil distributor in Texas," said Guy Oliver, president of MTG Management. "I remember the brand as a child. Being in the industry it has a strong nostalgic value to me, and I expect it will with consumers as well."
The return of Gulf Oil in 2011 also began on a "field"--the outfield of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
"We entered this multi-year deal with Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers even though there was not yet a single Gulf branded retail station in the state," said Dery. "With more than 13,000 retail gasoline stations, Texas leads the nation in station count. Texas is Gulf's birthplace, and we wanted to come home."
The sponsorship began at this year's season opener against the Boston Red Sox. Texas Ranger fans that make the trip to the team's ballpark will now associate Gulf Oil as part of their experience when they see the iconic blue and orange Gulf Oil disc in right field. The American League championship team sponsorship package also includes tickets, premium hospitality privileges and rights to conduct an annual in-market promotion with the fans.
"Gulf is demonstrating its commitment to serving the marketplace, and, through programs like the Texas Rangers sponsorship, is helping to grow the business," added Oliver.
Significantly contemporized from the first drive through service station Gulf Oil opened one century ago this year, the brand guarantees customers the same high quality, reliable, efficient and friendly experience the brand always has been known for, it said.
MTG Management is a privately held, family owned company headquartered in Austin. It was established in 1995.
Since acquiring the full national rights to the Gulf Oil brand from Chevron Corp. in 2010, Gulf Oil has rebranded more than 400 service sites and has secured 20 new distribution partners, reaching into 12 new states plus the District of Columbia. Additionally, the company started 2011 with at least 130 more rebranding commitments.
In 2010, Gulf Oil re-entered the states of Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia.
Gulf Oil has grown its presence to more than 2,500 branded retail locations in 23 states plus the District of Columbia since January 2010
(Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
Gulf Oil is a national, branded supplier of motor fuels throughout the United States and its territories. It is one of the Northeast's largest wholesalers of refined petroleum products, as well as in the rest of the country. Gulf Oil distributes motor fuels through a network of more than 2,000 branded gasoline retail centers, 12 proprietary oil terminals and more than 70 other supply terminals. Gulf Oil supplies gasoline, heating oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel and kerosene through its terminal network.
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