Maxx Oil president Mo Makki said he sought out the century-old brand when he learned it was returning to the Midwest. "I've been in business a long time and decided [image-nocss] the market conditions are right for me to begin supplying my own fuel," Makki said. "I've always dreamed of having the brand and never thought it would be a reality. It's like Coca Cola--Gulf Oil is part of the fabric of America. It's highly recognizable. It's warm. It's got a vintage, nostalgic appeal that consumers will be drawn to."
The first two stations to convert to Gulf are Clinton Township and on 8 Mile in Detroit. Each is the model of a 21st century fueling site, including a quick-service restaurant (a Tubby's at the Clinton Township location, a Subway at the 8 Mile site), Western Union check cashing services and U.S. Postal Service.
"Having a presence in the Motor City has been a milestone of our national expansion," said Gulf Oil senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer Rick Dery. "Our experience here will demonstrate the sort of commitment we have to support the brand across the Midwest."
Gulf Oil, based in Framingham, Mass., is now a national branded supplier of motor fuels throughout the United States and its territories. It remains one of the Northeast's largest wholesalers of refined petroleum products. Gulf Oil distributes motor fuels through a network of more than 2,000 branded gasoline retail centers, 12 proprietary oil terminals and a network of more than 70 other supply terminals. It also supplies gasoline, heating oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel and kerosene through its terminal network. Through its unbranded subsidiary, Great Island Energy, Gulf Oil also supplies petroleum products as well as risk management and financial services to industrial, commercial and independent retail firms.
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