FINDLAY, Ohio -- Marathon Petroleum Co. LLC, The Armor All/STP Products Co. and Afton Chemical Corp. have entered into agreements to introduce STP-branded gasoline performance additives to the Marathon-branded retail fuel network in the Midwest and the Southeast.
The STP branded additives, which will be blended into all grades of Marathon gasoline, are specially formulated and patented to provide valuable performance benefits. All performance claims are supported by Afton's extensive laboratory testing. These new and improved Marathon gasolines with [image-nocss] STP branded additives will offer Marathon consumers extra cleaning power and help engines run smoothly and maintain peak performance, the company said.
The agreements enable Marathon marketers to use STP logos throughout the station to communicate the new performance attributes of their gasolines fortified with STP branded additives.
Marathon will have exclusive use of the STP-branded gasoline additives in its marketing area. The STP mark will be deployed across the Marathon-branded network during the second half of 2006.
We view this key strategic relationship as another example of the innovative and value-adding programs offered to our Marathon-branded customers. We firmly believe that featuring trusted and powerful brands like STP provides the quality and selection that are expected and valued by our customers and consumers, said Mary Ellen Peters, Marathon senior vice president of marketing. We will continue to develop key strategic partnerships with trusted No. 1 consumer brands to deliver value, quality and innovationthe hallmark of the Marathon brand.
According to Jackson Davis, Afton's marketing director, We understand the pressures most gasoline marketers face with today's volatile fuel costs. By showcasing the STP brand as an integral part of their blends, those marketers can quickly communicate a compelling brand message. We believe this a significant opportunity for select marketers to bring real value back to gasoline products and increase sales.
Based in Findlay, Ohio, Marathon is the nation's fifth largest refiner, currently with 974,000 barrels-per-day capacity in its seven-refinery system. The company's retail marketing system comprises approximately 5,400 locations in 17 states; nearly three-quarters are Marathon brand locations. Marathon serves the Midwest and Southeast as a petroleum products marketer with 85 light product and asphalt terminals and access to approximately 7,700 miles of pipeline.
Afton Chemical Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of NewMarket Corp. Afton Chemical develops and manufactures petroleum additives that enhance the performance of lubricating oils and fuels in machinery, vehicles and other equipment.
The Armor All/STP Products Co. is a leading manufacturer of car care products. The STP line of products includes STP Gas Treatment, STP Fuel Injector and Carburetor Treatment, STP Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner, STP Complete Fuel System Cleaner, STP Octane Booster and STP Oil Stabilizer. The Armor All/STP Products Co. is a subsidiary of The Clorox Co., Oakland, Calif.
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