SOMERSET, Ky. & FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Gulf Oil LP is returning to Kentucky with the initial signing of a branded distributor agreement with Southern Petroleum Inc., Somerset, Ky. Southern Petroleum will soon begin rebranding nine retail motor fuel outlets (five currently flagged Chevron) to the new Gulf "Sunrise" image. This is the first time in 20 years that a Gulf Oil branded gas station has operated in the state. Southern Services Inc., a division of Southern Petroleum, will be coordinating the reimage installation.
Southern Petroleum supplies more than 150 gas stations in the state [image-nocss] of Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee.
"We are excited to be part of the Gulf family," said Jonathan Arnett, president of Southern Petroleum. "The Gulf brand has great awareness and recognition, and like our organization, is focused on high-quality customer service. They are a natural partner for us, and we look forward to a long successful partnership."
For the last 20 years, Gulf-branded gasoline in the continental United States has only been available in an 11-state region in the Northeast through a licensing agreement between Gulf Oil's parent company and Chevron USA Inc. On Jan. 12, 2010, Gulf Oil acquired all title and interests to the Gulf brand from Chevron USA. It now controls the right to market the brand throughout the United States and its territories. (Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
The deal follows word from San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron, as previously reported (click here) in CSP Daily News, that it is withdrawing motor-fuels operations from some areas of the eastern United States, opening the door for branding opportunities at approximately 1,100 independently owned and operated retail stations.
"We are very excited to serve Kentucky's driving public once again," said Gulf Oil senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer Rick Dery. "We remain steadfastly committed to enhancing our brand value and restoring the perception of Gulf to that of a premium nationwide gasoline retailer. Acceptance by branded distributors such as Southern Petroleum validates our efforts."
He added, "And, Kentucky is only the beginning. There is a huge appetite by branded distributors outside of our existing Northeastern geography for the return of the Gulf brand, and we have been overwhelmed by the reception that Gulf has received over the past few weeks. We have a multitude of branding requests from distributors down the East Coastfrom Maryland to Florida, and as far west as Minnesota. Within the next few years, the landscape of retail motor fuel outlets will change as Gulf becomes a national premium fuel and service option."
Gulf Oil president and chief operating officer Ron Sabia said, "We have enjoyed unparalleled growth in the last two years, as we enhance the quality and caliber of our station portfolio. With the retail gasoline marketplace undergoing a historic and fundamental consolidation, we are poised to take advantage of this opportunity. We will leverage our unique capabilities as a branded supplier and make our dealers and distributors successful over the long term."
Gulf Oil, based in Framingham, Mass., is one of the Northeast's largest wholesalers of refined petroleum products. It 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. It is an affiliate of Cumberland Farms.
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