Tesoro Expanding Network by Adding Exxon, Mobil Brands

SAN ANTONIO – Tesoro Corp. has secured rights from ExxonMobil Corp. to use the Exxon and Mobil brand names at retail stations in northern California, Oregon, western Washington and Nevada -- marketing areas that are strategically aligned with Tesoro's West Coast operations, the company said.

Additionally, Tesoro secured the rights to use the Exxon and Mobil brands throughout Minnesota, central/eastern North Dakota and northeastern South Dakota. These marketing areas are anchored by its Mandan, N.D., refinery.

"Introducing the well-established Exxon and Mobil brands into our retail network will allow us to drive further integration between our refining and marketing businesses with brands known for their quality products and marketing programs," said Dan Romasko, executive vice president of operations for Tesoro.

The Minnesota contracts are expected to transition to Tesoro by the end of this year, with subsequent market launches expected to begin in 2014, according to a Tesoro news release.

"This agreement with Tesoro provides consumers the opportunity to benefit from the reliability of supply from Tesoro, along with the strength of the Exxon and Mobil brands," said John Rhodes, Americas retail director for ExxonMobil. "I am looking forward to working with Tesoro and to the opportunity to expand ExxonMobil's brand presence in multiple states."

San Antonio-based Tesoro is an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products whose retail arm includes 2,200 locations under the Tesoro, Shell, ARCO and USA Gasoline brands, 595 of which are company-operated.