WASHINGTON, Mo. -- As CITGO's previously announced withdrawal from 10 states begins to take affect, it is providing smaller jobbers new opportunities, as illustrated by a report in The Missourian. When the oil company pulled out of Missouri, three Kandlbinder Inc. gas stations were forced to switch companies.
Since Washington, Mo.-based Kandlbinder's stations were successful in the Washington and Union, Mo., areas, manager Randy Kandlbinder said they were ready for the switch. "We decided to go with Zephyr Express (ZX) because it is a local dealer, not [image-nocss] owned by an oil company,"he told the newspaper. "It's a brand many customers can recall."
According to Russ Murray, ZX spokesperson, the brand was reintroduced to the St. Louis area. It was formerly known as Zephyr Station. "We are happy to serve the area," he told the paper. "We're also happy to see CITGO leave, so people are purchasing quality gasoline from a local St. Louis company."
Kandlbinder said he prefers working with a smaller company, rather than CITGO. "When people buy gas here, they can know their money will stay in the area," he said.
Murray said ZX provides independent dealers, like Kandlbinder, the ability to purchase fuel on a competitive basis. "We want our dealers to be able to afford and provide fuel for their customers.
There are more than 50 ZX stations and convenience stores in St. Louis and surrounding areas, the report said.
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