Supreme Petroleum, Inc. is a two generation company based in Suffolk, Virginia. The company was founded in 1970 by James "Jim" Russell as a family owned and operated business. It began as a one gasoline station operation and quickly grew to a multi-store chain and wholesale gasoline distributor. The company provided full service facilities in counties neighboring Suffolk. In addition, in 1974, Jim built Suffolk's first automated packaged ice manufacturing facility and began distributing packaged ice products to retailers throughout the Tidewater, Virginia region. The family business continued rapid growth with the acquisition of Darden Oil Company in 1985 enabling the company to diversify into the home heating oil business and expand its main service areas west.
In 1989, Jim was joined by his oldest son, James "Bo" Russell, Jr. as the Vice President of Operations. In 1992, the family business increased by one when William C. Russell, also known as Corey, joined the ranks and presently holds the position of Vice President & C.F.O. The company continued on its course of sustainable growth through key real estate acquisitions and diversification into the restaurant, home heating and air conditioning service business.
In 1999, the company launched its own brand of gasoline, "Supreme", to provide company operated and dealer operated sites with a more competitive alternative to the "major" brand dominated markets. The brand continues to grow in the Tidewater, Virginia market and the company expects that the presence of unbranded sites will continue to become more attractive to operators seeking liberation from "major brand" mandates.
Today, the company is a distributor of BP/Amoco, Shell, Crown, Pure, and Supreme branded fuels and heating oils. It operates eighteen convenience stores, known as the Holiday Food Stores, and supplies a network of dealers and wholesale fuel customers in the Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina areas. In addition, its sister company, Holiday Ice, Inc., produces, packages and distributes up to two hundred tons of ice daily to grocery stores, convenience stores, and special events in Virginia and North Carolina.
Supreme Petroleum continues to grow by the dedication of its owners and employees while providing the high level of personal service that its customers have come to expect.
