“We mark our 80th anniversary with a continued commitment to the communities we serve through the breadth of services and products we offer—at home, at work, and on the go,” says NOCO president.
NOCO, a family-owned and locally operated energy company, is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2013. To mark the occasion, NOCO is planning a series of special events, activities, and promotions that highlight the company’s commitment to western New York.
“Since our grandfather purchased his first coal truck in 1933, to our father and uncle expanding our portfolio of products and services, NOCO has grown to become a respective leader, both locally and nationally, in the energy business and one of the largest independent fuel distributors and suppliers in the Northeast,” said James Newman, president. “We mark our 80th anniversary with a continued commitment to the communities we serve through the breadth of services and products we offer—at home, at work, and on the go.”
Throughout 2013, NOCO will give back to its hometown community through various charitable donations and activities. Plus, NOCO Express will host 80th anniversary celebrations across their 35 retail convenience stores in July. Additional special events will be announced throughout the year-long anniversary.
“Marking 80 years in the turbulent energy business is truly a great accomplishment for the Newman family. Throughout the decades we have been able to continually evolve our offerings and product selection based on the needs of our commercial and residential customers,” said Michael Newman, executive vice president. “We are proud of our strong western New York roots and heritage and we look forward to providing our customers with their energy needs and solutions now and for generations to come.”
Founded in Tonawanda in 1933 by Reginald Newman, NOCO started out supplying coal to residential customers. After its incorporation in 1948 to R.B. Newman Fuel Co., NOCO began delivering home heating oil as the demand for coal decreased. In 1950, the company expanded to serve small commercial and industrial customers with lubricants, gasoline and diesel fuel. Reginald’s sons Donald and Reginald Newman II, joined the company in 1954 and 1960, respectively, and continued the growth of the company by broadening NOCO’s product lines and distribution area.
In 1973, NOCO acquired a 33-million gallon storage facility in Tonawanda from the Gulf Oil Co. and purchased the adjacent 10-million gallon operation from Ashland Oil to give the company more than 43 million gallons of petroleum storage capacity, which the company continues to maintain today at its Tonawanda Fuel Terminal. NOCO entered the retail convenience store business in 1984 with its first NOCO Express location.
In 2001, Jim and Michael Newman were named president and executive vice president, respectively, carrying the business into the third generation. Under their leadership, the company has significantly expanded its geography through acquisitions and new ventures, including lubricant operations in Pittsburgh and northern West Virginia and commercial and residential fuel operations in Eastern Ontario, Canada including Ottawa.
Today, NOCO’s product portfolio includes commercial and residential fuels, lubricants, natural gas, electricity, heating and cooling, and propane. The company now serves more than 50,000 commercial and residential customers in New York, Vermont, Western Pennsylvania, and parts of Ohio, West Virginia, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. NOCO’s Canadian operations reach customers throughout Eastern Ontario and Southern Quebec. NOCO operates 35 NOCO Express retail convenience stores, serving more than 15 million customers annually, and supplies branded and unbranded gasoline to a growing dealer network.
As a locally-owned company, NOCO is one of the largest private sector employers in western New York, with approximately 650 full time and part time associates locally and more than 800 companywide.
