7) It Didn’t Have to Happen

Too Late for Sinclair Retail (excerpt)…
struggles with refining and retail gasoline margins
have pinched the company tight enough to where they decided to
sell the retail division.
“Their intent is to sell it to their jobbers or distributors,” said one Sinclair employee who requested anonymity.
Larry Rogers, general manager of retail marketing, acknowledged to CSP Daily News that the company intends to sell the 90 stores, but chose not to offer details, pending approval by upper management and the ownership.
John Hill, executive director of the Utah Petroleum Marketers and Retailers Association, hadn’t heard about the sale yesterday morning but chalked it up to another oil company realizing retail isn’t the place to make money in this industry.

It may be too late for Sinclair, but not too late for you. Control your fuel margins (see Post #6 and earlier). Don’t let the market control them, or your future.

More of the same here: Susser Holdings Net Income Cut by Two-Thirds … companywide gross profit totaled $107.8 million, down 4.2%, primarily reflecting lower fuel margins.