TEXARKANA, Texas -- TAC Energy, a subsidiary of Truman Arnold Cos., and Crown Central LLC, have entered into a brand licensing agreement to further expand the Crown fuel brand. Under the agreement, TAC Energy will be able to brand TAC-supplied locations with the Crown image as a licensed provider of Crown fuels.
"We believe the combination of TAC Energy's supply capabilities and stellar reputation, coupled with Crown's retail presence and brand recognition, will be beneficial to both organizations," said Bob Fritz, Crown's general manager. "Crown has a great reputation and has been an [image-nocss] established brand in the Southeastern, Mid-South and Mid Atlantic regions for many years."
John Rettiger, TAC Energy's vice president, said, "We are excited to be partnering with Crown licensees who want a fuel supplier to provide guaranteed unbranded fuel supply at the lowest cost."
Crown Central is headquartered in Baltimore and provides electronic payment processing and retail brand continuity through distributors and dealers throughout the United States. All Crown retail locations are operated by independent licensees and their dealers.Currently, Crown is found in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Crown also offers a license of the store brands Fast Fare, ExpressMart and Zippy Mart, either as standalone brands or in conjunction with Crown.
Once a "semi-major" oil company, Crown Central Petroleum—a large, 85-year-old company with more than $2 billion in annual sales—in 2004 and 2005 divested its remaining refinery and terminal assets and sold several hundred retail locations. The Crown Central brand began staging a comeback about a year ago. It developed and is now rolling out a program for jobbers and individual dealers. (Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
TAC Energy offers competitively priced fuel products with the capability to provide custom pricing formulas, bulk supply, hedging and risk management programs and complete supply-chain management.
Texarkana, Texas-based Truman Arnold Cos.' TAC Terminals unit operates two major petroleum terminals in Arkansas. It also owns and operates two Road Runner gas stations and convenience stores, a brand it sold to Total Petroleum in 1989, but is in the process of reviving. At one time, it had 125 locations in eight states.
Through its TAC Air unit, Truman Arnold Cos. offers fixed-based operations (FBO), including aircraft fueling, hanger, and ground transportation services, through 12 general aviation facilities. Other interests include banking, real-estate development and ranching.
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