Clark Brands, Crown Central Combine to Form New Company

BALTIMORE and NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Clark Brands and Crown Central LLC announced today the merging of their businesses and the formation of a new company, Clark Crown Brands LLC.

The newly formed company now owns the Crown family of brands and licenses the Crown and Fast Fare convenience store brands to fuel and lube oil marketers. Crown fuel brands are marketed mainly throughout the South and Mid-Atlantic, and the lube and oil brands are marketed both domestically and internationally.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Clark Brands LLC, Clark Crown will serve as the new operating entity for the Crown brand licensing program. Clark Crown will also provide a powerful brand offering that will result in increased service and benefits for Crown customers, while keeping costs as low as possible, the companies stated in a release.

"The combination of the Clark and Crown brands will offer us the ability to grow in our respective markets and leverage our economies of scale for our customers," said Clark Chief Operating Officer Stacey Yimet. "We have added resources over the past several months to prepare for this transaction, offering increased and improved levels of service for our customers, both Clark and Crown branded. We are excited for the opportunities the two brands offer us and anticipate new levels of growth as a result."

The two brands have been working together for many years.

"I am very pleased that Clark and Crown were able to officially put the two brands together under one umbrella to help ensure their long-term growth potential,” said Bob Fritz, Crown’s general manager. “Crown has worked exclusively with Clark on multiple programs since 2005, and it became evident early on that the synergy was undeniable. I look forward to continuing to work with the team at Clark Crown Brands."

Baltimore-based Crown Central LLC has been marketing under the Crown family of brands for more than 90 years. As a result of this transaction, Crown will maintain a minority ownership position in Clark Brands LLC.

Naperville, Ill.-based Clark Brands owns the Clark family of brands. The company licenses the Clark gasoline brand and the Four Corners Coffee brand to independent petroleum marketers and retailers. Clark also processes payment transactions for Clark, Crown and independent fuel stations in 29 states and the District of Columbia.