Update: Western Refining Begins Operation of 17 Catalina Marts

EL PASO, Texas -- Western Refining has begun operating the 17 Catalina Mart stores it acquired from the Loma Catalina Co. earlier this month, according to an El Paso Times report.

The company will re-brand the stores to its Giant brand, but will keep their Chevron- and Shell-branded gasoline, said Gary Hanson, spokesman for Western Refining.

These new stores, when combined with the company's existing locations and its recent purchase of two bankrupt Gas City c-stores, bring the total number of Giant stores in Tucson to 29, stated Hanson.