SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After more than 60 years, the California Independent Oil Marketers Association (CIOMA) is changing its name to keep up with the latest evolution of the fuel and c-store industry.
The new name for the group: California Fuels & Convenience Alliance (CFCA). Ryan Hanretty, executive director of the newly named CFCA, Sacramento, Calif., said the name change reflects the current face of fuel retail.
“Over the course of our history, CIOMA has come to not only represent the independent marketers of fuels, but all of California’s gas stations, convenience stores and service stations,” he said in a statement. “The leaders throughout the history of our industry have brought us to this current opportunity. We know that gas stations are the most recognizable part of the fuels and convenience industry in people’s everyday lives. This new brand will better help the public and governmental regulators understand the different sectors within the complex fuel supply chain and distinguish our members from the refiners (the ‘major’ oil companies).”
CFCA’s constituents will continue to be small, family- and minority-owned businesses. Hanretty pointed to members’ roles as pioneers in fueling and transportation and in introducing alternative fuels such as biodiesel and hydrogen. The name change also reflects the much bigger role of the c-store in the fuel retail model compared to when CIOMA was founded in 1957.
“Gas stations and convenience stores are deeply integrated into every community and have become a pivotal crux for California’s families, bringing fresh grocery options and everyday essentials to our state’s vast food deserts, in urban and rural areas alike,” Hanretty said.
The name change to CFCA is happening just before the association’s 2018 Pacific Oil Conference, which takes place Sept. 4-6 in Los Angeles. The educational side of the conference will include sessions on retail, transportation, human resources, fuel and regulations, and the trade show will feature more than 140 exhibitors.
“The fuels and convenience industry is essential in fueling California’s economy,” Hanretty said. “CFCA is here to lead the way, not just for our members, but for every person who calls California home.”
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