The two family-owned businesses share core values and look to grow in the Vermont, New Hampshire area.
Fleming Oil Co. in Brattleboro, Vt., and Dead River Co. have merged, effective Nov. 17, with plans to expand into select markets in New England.
Fleming Oil operates at 11 locations in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Dead River Co. has been in business for 103 years. It sold its Maine c-stores to Circle K in October and now operates 40 retail fuel offices in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The company is currently seeking expansion in select New Hampshire and Vermont markets.
Under the agreement, Fleming convenience stores and fuel pumps will remain under the ownership of the Fleming family.
Rick Fleming, the owner of Fleming Oil, told The Reformer Dead River and Fleming Oil are a perfect match because they are both family-owned businesses that share principles and core values, including a commitment to their communities, their customers and their employees. “Those are the core values that Fleming lives by and those are the same values Dead River cherishes,” Norm Guerette, Dead River’s regional manager who oversees New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts told The Reformer.
The merger also complements Dead River’s recent purchase of Country Oil in Bernardston, Mass., he said.
Though Dead River bought the services and heating oil divisions of the business, the convenience stores and their fuel pumps will remain under the ownership of the Fleming family. The stores’ name will change to Shell Food Marts.