Mobil Brand Returns to New Jersey

NEPTUNE CITY, N.J. -- After a 15-year absence, the Mobil brand has made its return to New Jersey.

Three stations carrying the brand, well known for its Pegasus logo, can now be found in the Garden State in the Jersey Shore towns of Neptune City, Bradley Beach and Toms River. According to the Asbury Park Press, a fourth Mobil station is expected to open in Neptune, N.J., by the end of this month.

As part of an antitrust settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, Exxon Corp. and Mobil Corp. were forced to sell Mobil gas stations in New Jersey 15 years ago as a stipulation so that the two companies could merge. That restriction has now lapsed, allowing the Mobil brand to return to the Garden State.

Unlike in 1999, however, Exxon Mobil Corp. doesn't own any of the New Jersey gas stations carrying the Mobil brand. Instead, independent service stations now contract with the oil company to use the banner.

Ravi Gill, vice president of Creative Management Inc., owner of the three current Mobil-branded gas stations in New Jersey, told the news outlet that Mobil was probably the most recognized retail brand until it had to leave the state.

"Mobil offers some of the best product -- at least fuel product -- in the market," he said. "It has a loyal following among its customer base."

More change in New Jersey's fuel market could come soon. As CSNews Online previously reported, Hess Corp. is planning to either spin off or sell its entire retail network of more than 1,300 gas stations and convenience stores by the middle of this year. A large concentration of Hess sites are in New Jersey.