OMAHA, Neb. -- Travel center operator Sapp Bros. Inc. has joined VP Racing Fuels Inc.'s roster of retail brand partners. Sapp Bros. also provides wholesale distribution of fuels and lubricants to more than 160 branded and more than 40 unbranded retail sites in eight states, from Utah to Pennsylvania.
"Among the benefits that sold us on VP's retail brand program were its attractive image, its great credit-card rates and the ability to source unbranded fuel for our sites," said Doug Coziahr, retail sales manager for Sapp Bros., Omaha, Neb. "The VP-branded program will put our dealers in a much better position to compete against other unbranded large chains."
Alan Cerwick, president of VP Racing Fuels, said, "We're excited to welcome Sapp Bros. Inc. to our family of retail brand partners. Sapp Bros. Inc. is a highly respected, innovative and forward-thinking marketer that understands the need for a solution like VP in today's challenging retail fuel market. With this newly forged relationship, we have tremendous confidence in their ability to aggressively grow the VP brand in the upper Midwest."
Sapp Bros Travel Center was started by the four Sapp brothers in Omaha in 1971. The company has grown into a chain of 16 travel centers operating in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah as well as wholesale supply.
In other company news, VP Racing Fuels said Dennis Stanko, director of sales for consumer products, has been appointed director of sales for specialty products, a new position in Texas Allied Chemicals Inc., a sister company of VP Racing Fuels.
Prior to joining VP in 2011, Stanko worked at Valero Energy Corp., San Antonio, with responsibility for wholesale, supply and trading and at NuStar Energy, San Antonio, in sales and business development. An entrepreneur, Stanko also owned the i9 Sports youth sports franchise and participated in several startup businesses.
Replacing Stanko as director of sales for consumer products is Bruce Hendel, formerly western sales manager for the company's VP Racing Fuels division. In his new role, Hendel will be responsible for product development and sales of VP's line of consumer products, including VP Small Engine Fuel; VP Powermaster hobby fuel; "Madditive" performance chemicals; VP Motorsport and Sportsman's Containers; and a line of car care products currently in development.
Based in southern California, Hendel managed race fuel sales for VP's Western Region for the last 20 years, contributing substantial growth with a particular emphasis on the powersport market. Prior to joining VP, Hendel owned and operated a KTM dealership in Terre Haute, Ind., and was also involved in a printing and packaging business prior to that.
"Bruce has been instrumental in growing race fuel sales and making VP a dominant force on the West Coast," said Cerwick.
VP Racing Fuels is known as a leader in race fuel technology for every form of motorsports on land, sea and air since 1975. VP is the Official Racing Fuel of NHRA Championship Drag Racing, American Le Mans, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and Late Model Series and Rally America, among more than 60 VP-sponsored series and sanctioning bodies.
In addition to racing fuels, VP's product line includes VP Small Engine Fuels, formulated specifically for two-cycle and four-cycle portable gas-powered equipment and PowerMaster hobby fuels for radio-controlled (R/C) Racing.
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