Cloutier Oil Exits the C-store Business After 53 Years

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- After 53 years in operation, oil distributor Cloutier Oil has been bought out by Ridgeland, Miss.-based Victory Properties, the Natchez Democrat reported. The sale of the company's 11 convenience stores was completed on March 19 and followed by a week of auditing. Cloutier Oil is currently closing out its books.

When it opened for business in 1958, Cloutier Oil served commercial consumer accounts before expanding into the c-store industry in 1984.

"What we found is that we were much better at the convenience business than the consumer business," company owner Lawrie Cloutier told the Democrat. "We wouldn't have made it this long if we hadn't changed with the times."

Most of Cloutier Oil's locations sell Shell products.

Victory Properties, a partnership between Rex Gillis of Columbus, Miss., and Joe Morris of Ridgeland, Miss. that also does business with Shell Oil, approached Cloutier about a sale. The purchased stores are in Natchez, Vidalia, Ferriday, Jonesville, Woodville, Meridian, Forrest, Port Gibson, Fayette and Bude, Miss. Victory also purchased nine dealer accounts, according to the report.

"I am thankful I was able to sell to fellow Shell Oil Co. distributors, to be able to keep the Shell brand in southwest Mississippi," Cloutier said.