R.E. Powell Launches Buying Group for Its Dealers

GRANDVIEW, Wash. — Fuel distributor R.E. Powell Distributing Co. launched a buying group for its dealers, which will be administered by Convenience Store Alliance (CSA).

The buying program features locked-in, off-invoice deals with 20 national vendors, including Core-Mark International Inc., The Coca-Cola Co. and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, as well as vendors for ATM, worker’s compensation, insurance, uniforms, cleaning services and more.

“We’re thrilled to offer this buying group to further prove our promise to bring customers ‘More Solutions, Less Friction,’ above and beyond the value we’re already providing as a fuel source,” said R.E. Powell General Manager of Convenience Retail Justin Christensen. “It’s so easy for customers to save money on the goods and services they’re already paying for, just by switching to CSA vendors. No hoops to jump through, no strings attached.”

R.E. Powell’s retail partners can choose any or all vendor programs offered by the buying group. The Grandview-based fuel distributor will pay the $300 CSA enrollment fee for any retail partner who elects to join the program.

Founded in 1935, R.E. Powell is the largest fuel distributor in the Pacific Northwest, supplying fuel, lubricant and propane to all of Washington, northern and eastern Oregon, and the Idaho panhandle.

“Some marketers try to leverage the vendor deals with their own company stores to negotiate similar deals for their wholesale customers,” said CSA Vice President of Operations Scott Cole. “R.E. Powell recognized that without an opportunity for vendors to grow market share beyond their distributorship region, vendors don’t have incentive to provide a national-chain discount. CSA already had the infrastructure, data capturing, reporting and vendor contracts in place to administer R.E. Powell’s branded buying program seamlessly.”

Convenience Store Alliance helps independent convenience store operators nationwide compete with large chain stores. For the western half of the United States, it is the Phillips 66 Branded Retail Buying Program and is available to more than 7,000 branded sites that currently sell Phillips 66-, Conoco- or 76-branded gasoline.