NEW ALBANY, Ind. -- Thorntons Inc. has added E-85 fuel at a store located in New Albany, Ind. This will be the second station in the southern Indiana area to carry the environmentally friendly fuel. Thorntons currently has nine locations throughout the company with E-85 fuel; four in Illinois, two in Indiana, two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee.
Over the next several months, Thorntons will continue to add E-85 fuel to eight more store locations. By the end of March 2010, it will have a total of 17 stores throughout the company with this alternative fuel.
E-85 is [image-nocss] an alcohol-based fuel, comprised of 15% gasoline. Ethanol can be made from virtually any agriculture feedstock from which starch is derived, such as sugar cane, wheat or milo. Today, most domestic ethanol is produced from corn, an abundant and renewable grain.
As an alternative fuel, E-85 has experienced tremendous growth in the last 10 years, said Thorntons. The growth is due primarily to the fuel's benefits as a renewable fuel that helps create a cleaner environment, boosts the U.S. economy and reduces oil imports, according to the company.
"We are very excited about the expansion of E-85 fuel in our stores," said Matt Thornton, CEO of the Louisville, Ky.-based chain. "We support the use of ethanol, wherever it is economically available."
Thorntons Inc is a leading independent gasoline/convenience retailer marketing throughout the Midwest under the brand name of Thorntons QuickCafe & Market. It is Kentucky's largest privately held company, with more than $1.4 billion in annual revenue. The company operates 161 gasoline/c-stores, one travel plaza and seven car washes. It also distributes petroleum products through the wholly owned Thornton Transportation Co. and operates a river bulk storage terminal in Louisville.
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