NEW HOPE, Pa. -- Benit Fuel Sales & Service Inc. has licensed Spirit Petroleum's first site in the state of New York. The Mendenhall Fuel Inc. gas station in East Quogue, Long Island, converted to the Spirit brand as of June 2008. According to Louis B. DeBenedittis, director of marketing for Benit Fuel Sales & Service, the primary reason for the conversion to Spirit is that owner Thomas Mendenhall was looking for a more patriotic, American image for the station.
"With the increasing market volatility, we see Spirit as a flexible alternative to traditional brands [image-nocss] and we hope to build with them as a key partner," DeBenedittis added.
"Benit and Mendenhall are both family-run businesses serving this industry for 70 to 80 years and counting," said Vera Haskins, president of Spirit Petroleum. "We are thrilled that such important fixtures in the New York market recognize the value and advantages of Spirit."
Founded in Brooklyn, N.Y.,in 1928, Benit Fuel Sales & Service began as an ice, coal and heating oil company. Today, the family-owned and operated business is a large, diversified marketer of petroleum products with headquarters in Smithtown, N.Y. Its gasoline division supplies gas stations and marinas in the boroughs of New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties under a variety of major brands. The company also sells tanks nationwide through its operation of Areo Power Unitized Fueler, an aboveground tank manufacturer.
Starting out in 1934 with an old pickup truck and a 200-gallon tank, Mendenhall Fuel is now a full-service heating and air-conditioning business. The family has operated the station since 1949 under various brands. According to DeBenedittis, the primary reason for the conversion to Spirit is that owner Thomas Mendenhall was looking for a more patriotic, American image for the station.
Spirit Petroleum was created to present a positive alternative for qualifying members of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America's (PMAA) 46 state associations. Spirit has been embraced by marketers nationwide with licensed sites in states from coast to coast, PMAA said. More than half of the licensees have branded multiple locations.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.