TONAWANDA, N.Y. -- NOCO, a family-owned energy company is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2013. To mark the occasion, NOCO is planning a series of special events, activities and promotions that highlight the company's commitment to Western New York.
Throughout 2013, NOCO will give back to its hometown community through various charitable donations and activities. Also, NOCO Express will host 80th anniversary celebrations across its 35 retail convenience stores in July. It will announce additional special events throughout the year-long anniversary.
"Since our grandfather purchased his first coal truck in 1933, to our father and uncle expanding our portfolio of products and services, NOCO has grown to become a respective leader, both locally and nationally, in the energy business and one of the largest independent fuel distributors and suppliers in the Northeast," said James D. Newman, president. "We mark our 80th anniversary with a continued commitment to the communities we serve through the breadth of services and products we offer--at home, at work and on the go."
Founded in Tonawanda in 1933 by Reginald B. Newman, NOCO started out supplying coal to residential customers. After its incorporation in 1948 to R.B. Newman Fuel Co., NOCO began delivering home heating oil as the demand for coal decreased. In 1950, the company expanded to serve small commercial and industrial customers with lubricants, gasoline and diesel fuel. Reginald's sons Donald F. and Reginald B. Newman II, joined the company in 1954 and 1960, respectively, and continued the growth of the company by broadening NOCO's product lines and distribution area.
In 1973, NOCO acquired a 33-million gallon storage facility in Tonawanda from the Gulf Oil Co. and purchased the adjacent 10-million gallon operation from Ashland Oil to give the company more than 43 million gallons of petroleum storage capacity, which the company continues to maintain today at its Tonawanda Fuel Terminal. NOCO entered the retail convenience store business in 1984 with its first NOCO Express location.
In 2001, Jim and Michael Newman were named president and executive vice president, respectively, carrying the business into the third generation. Under their leadership, the company has significantly expanded its geography through acquisitions and new ventures, including lubricant operations in Pittsburgh and northern West Virginia and commercial and residential fuel operations in eastern Ontario, including Ottawa.
Today, NOCO's product portfolio includes commercial and residential fuels, lubricants, natural gas, electricity, heating and cooling and propane. The company now serves more than 50,000 commercial and residential customers in New York, Vermont, western Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio, West Virginia, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. NOCO's Canadian operations reach customers throughout eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. NOCO operates 35 NOCO Express retail convenience stores, serving more than 15 million customers annually, and supplies branded and unbranded gasoline to a growing dealer network.
NOCO is one of the largest private-sector employers in Western New York, with approximately 650 full-time and part-time associates locally and more than 800 associates companywide.
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