BellStore C-Stores to Sell Marathon Gas

MASSILLON, Ohio -- BellStore gas stations and convenience stores in six counties in Ohio -- Stark, Tuscarawas, Medina, Summit, Ashland and Wayne -- have entered into a contract with Marathon Petroleum to supply gasoline to its stations by the end of November, the Canton Repository reported.

Campbell Oil Co., which owns the BellStore chain, is switching from its existing fuel supplier, CITGO Petroleum Corp., due to CITGO's decision to cut its fuel supplies in Ohio and nine other states, the newspaper reported.

Campbell had negotiated with three other major oil companies before deciding on Marathon, which will make BellStores more competitive and efficient in local markets, according to Brian Burrow, president of Campbell Oil. Marathon was chosen because of its refinery, located in Stark County, he said. The company, headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, also offers a 5 percent rebate on its proprietary Chase MasterCard.

"It has always been our desire to partner with local businesses in our marketplace that keep people employed here," Burrow said in a written statement. "We need to support the companies that manufacture here to keep our communities strong."

As for its former supplier CITGO, Burrow said that it has been "outstanding," however, the company had already been considering a switch from the Venezuelan-owned company when the country's president Hugo Chavez made negative statements about the United States and President Bush, the Canton Repository said.
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