Petroleum marketer Papco Inc., Virginia Beach, Va., announced that it acquired 23 Shell-branded retail gas stations and one Exxon location, collectively known as the “Tidewater Retail Assets,” from SMO, Inc. a subsidiary of The Wills Group, Inc.
Papco President Gary Gilmore said, “These retail assets are in our core market in Southeastern Virginia and will be a nice addition to our retail portfolio. We look forward to working with this group of retail dealers to continue their ongoing operations and helping them to leverage the supply and marketing strengths of Papco.”
Papco markets refined fuels, lubricants, risk management products and fuel card fleet management programs to industrial, retail, marine, commercial transportation companies (trucking, transit, railroad, marine) and federal, state, and municipal government end users in the eastern United States. Papco backs its value-added services with secure fuel supply capabilities through proprietary fuel storage locations and supply agreements with a network of refiners, pipelines, terminals, and transportation providers.
SMO and its parent company, The Wills Group, based in LaPlata, Md., have been in business since 1926. After the transaction with Papco, SMO will continue its core marketing activities in retail from Richmond, Va., to Wilmington, Del. Additionally, SMO serves Southern Maryland markets and beyond in home heat, HVAC and commercial fuel.
