UTICA, N.Y. -- After more than 30 years as a Nice N Easy franchisee, Clifford Fuel Co. has decided to give its 18 convenience stores a makeover. During the month of May, the company’s stores will rebrand from Nice N Easy to Cliff’s Local Market.
Here’s why …
“We’ve had a great partnership with Nice N Easy for more than 30 years,” said Jim Clifford, president of Clifford Fuel. “The franchise has gone through many changes recently, and we decided that it was time to end our association with Nice N Easy and change our store chain’s name to Cliff’s Local Market. Our new name and image better represents our company’s identity, mission and strong 55-year history.”
During the transition, the company said that customers can expect to see changes to both the interiors and exteriors of the locations.
CST Brands Inc. and CrossAmerica Partners LP closed on the acquisition of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes, Canastota, N.Y., in November 2014. (They have since been acquired by Circle K parent Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., Laval, Quebec.) Nice N Easy operated 77 corporate and franchise convenience stores in central New York.
San Antonio-based CST Brands and Allentown, Pa.-based CrossAmerica jointly purchased the assets of Nice N Easy, with CrossAmerica purchasing 23 fee sites, as well as certain fuel distribution assets for $65 million. CST Brands purchased the retail operations at the 32 company-operated sites and certain other assets.
In other company news, Clifford Fuel acquired Lock 96, a convenience store and CITGO gas station in Port Leyden, N.Y., in late January.
Lock 96 got its name from the Black River Canal system that ran from Rome to Lyons Falls, N.Y.
Lock 96 will offer the Clifford Fuel foodservice program and will see some interior renovations, the company said.
Jack Clifford founded Clifford Fuel in 1961 in Dolgeville, N.Y. The company supplied home heating oil, propane gas, farm gas and diesel. In 1966, the company expanded into Utica as a commission agent for Sinclair Oil. BP Oil took over from Sinclair but left the state in 1973. Chevron took over from BP. Nice N Easy and Clifford Fuel formed a business relationship in the late 1980s.
Utica, N.Y.-based Clifford Fuel owns 24 locations, which include 19 c-stores and five car washes. It also supplies gasoline and diesel fuel to more than 40 locations owned by independent operators. It markets CITGO, Sunoco and unbranded products. The company operates its own fleet of delivery trucks throughout central and northern New York.
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