G and B Energy

What G and B Energy does

G&B Energy is a privately held, family-owned energy retailer founded in 1930 in Elkin, North Carolina, and currently in its fourth generation of family ownership. The company delivers propane, heating oil, kerosene, and motor fuels (gasoline including non-ethanol, highway diesel, and off-road diesel) to residential, agricultural, and commercial customers across Western and Piedmont North Carolina through nine combined showroom, delivery, and service locations. Its core operational technology is a computerized automatic delivery scheduling system that projects fill dates from historical usage and weather data, complemented by a third-party Tank Utility tank monitoring integration and a recently launched online customer portal for usage visibility and bill pay.

Beyond fuels, G&B Energy operates a diversified hearth and outdoor living retail business, selling and installing fireplaces, gas logs, stoves, mantels, tankless and tank water heaters (Rinnai, Navien, Bradford White), boilers, ductless and vent-free heaters, premium grills (Big Green Egg, Napoleon, HALO), outdoor kitchens, retractable awnings, gas lighting, and Solatube daylighting. Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring per-gallon fuel delivery (with subscription-style automatic delivery and fixed-rate Stable Propane Pricing and Budget Payment Plan options), one-time appliance sales, and licensed installation and repair services. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via local showrooms with live burn displays, supported by sales staff offering free consultations, plus community engagement through the annual G&B Energy Charity Golf Classic. The company was named to LP Gas Magazine's Top 30 propane retailers in the nation from 2003 to 2010 and exited the convenience store business in 2007 to focus on fuels and hearth.

Name

G and B Energy

Legal name

G&B Energy

Website

https://gbenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

G&B Energy is a family-owned, fourth-generation propane, heating oil, and motor fuel delivery company serving residential, agricultural, and commercial customers across Western and Piedmont North Carolina through nine showroom-and-delivery locations, with complementary hearth, water heating, and outdoor living retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Propane and Heating Fuel Delivery

NAICS

Fuel Dealers (4572), Fuel Dealers (45721)

SIC

Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures (3430)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Fuel, Propane & Energy Supply for Farms (Retailer-Operated) (AFABAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outdoor Cooking, Grills & Fuel Retail (CRAMAMAD)

Keywords

• Propane delivery service
• Heating oil delivery
• Hearth products retail
• Outdoor living products
• Fuel distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Elkin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Propane Delivery: Primary revenue stream from propane gas delivery to residential, agricultural, and commercial customers. Customers can choose automatic delivery service or will-call delivery options.
2. Heating Oil Delivery: Delivery of heating oil for furnaces and kerosene for monitor heaters to customers served from multiple locations.
3. Motor Fuels: Delivery of gasoline (including non-ethanol), highway diesel, and off-road diesel to home, farm, and commercial customers.
4. Appliance Sales: Sales of hearth products including fireplaces, gas logs, stoves, mantels; water heaters (tank and tankless); heating equipment (boilers, ductless furnaces, vent-free heaters); outdoor living products (grills, outdoor kitchens, awnings, gas lighting); and Solatube daylighting systems.
5. Installation Services: Licensed installation and repair services for gas piping systems and gas appliances including propane tanks, fireplaces, water heaters, grills, and outdoor kitchen components.
6. Service and Repair: Repair and maintenance services for propane and oil appliances, gas fireplaces, water heaters, and furnaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

G&B Energy delivers propane, heating oil, kerosene, and motor fuels to residential, agricultural, and commercial customers across Western North Carolina through nine company-owned showrooms and delivery hubs, supplemented by sales, installation, and repair of hearth products, water heaters, heating equipment, grills, and outdoor living products. Its recurring fuel delivery programs (automatic and will-call) anchor the business, complemented by retail appliance sales and licensed gas-appliance installation and service.

Product overview

G&B Energy is a family-owned energy company founded in 1930, offering a comprehensive portfolio of energy products and services across Western North Carolina. The company operates as a diversified energy provider combining fuel delivery services with a full retail hearth and outdoor living products division. Core offerings center on propane and heating oil delivery with flexible payment options, complemented by an extensive hearth products showroom featuring fireplaces, gas logs, and stoves (from brands like Kozy Heat, Hearthstone, Vermont Castings, and Regency), water heating solutions including Rinnai and Navien tankless and tank water heaters, and outdoor living products including premium grills (Big Green Egg, Napoleon, HALO), outdoor kitchens, SunSetter awnings, and gas lighting. The company provides full-service capabilities including delivery, installation, and repair across nine locations serving residential, farm, and commercial customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Propane Delivery Propane fuel delivery to homes, farms, and businesses with automatic delivery and will-call options, featuring competitive pricing and flexible payment plans including Stable Propane Pricing and Budget Payment.
• Motor Fuels Motor fuel delivery including gasoline (including non-ethanol), highway diesel, and off-road diesel to home, farm, and commercial customers.
• Heating Oil and Kerosene Heating oil delivery service for furnaces and boilers, and kerosene delivery for monitor heaters and other heating applications.
• Fireplaces Gas and wood burning fireplaces including Direct Vent, Vent Free, Vented, and Wood Burning types, sold with installation services.
• Gas Logs Gas log sets for existing fireplaces including Direct Vent Inserts, Vent Free, and Vented options from brands like Monessen, Empire, and R.H. Peterson.
• Stoves Gas, wood, and pellet burning stoves from brands including Kozy Heat, Hearthstone, Vermont Castings, and Regency for zone heating and supplemental warmth.
• Mantels Log Style Mantels made from real wood slabs in Hickory, Eastern Red Cedar, Butternut, and Basswood species with bark front and carved finish options.
• Tankless Water Heaters Propane-fueled tankless water heaters from Rinnai and Navien providing endless hot water with up to 98% efficiency, starting at $295 after rebates.
• Tank Water Heaters Propane tank water heaters from Bradford White and State in sizes from 40 to 75 gallons with standard, direct, and power vent models.
• Boilers Condensing tankless combi boilers from Rinnai and Navien providing hydronic/radiant floor heating and domestic hot water with efficiency over 96%.
• Ductless Furnace Rinnai direct vent wall furnaces providing supplemental heat with modulating technology and zone heating capabilities, ventable up to 13 feet.
• Vent Free Heaters Vent-free wall heaters available in blue flame (convection) and infrared (radiant) styles from Empire and Rinnai for supplemental heating.
• Grills and Smokers Premium quality grills including Big Green Egg kamado cookers, HALO pellet grills and pizza ovens, Napoleon grills, TrueFlame grills, Wilmington Grills, and Endless Summer fire pits.
• Outdoor Kitchens Custom outdoor kitchen installations featuring Fire Magic, American Outdoor Grill, Broil King, Kamado Joe, and Blaze products including built-in grills, side burners, and refrigeration.
• Retractable Awnings SunSetter retractable deck and patio awnings including motorized and manual vista models with 5-year limited warranty.
• Gas Lighting Outdoor gas and electric lighting fixtures from Coppersmith Lighting available in manual and electronic ignition styles for pathways and architectural accents.
• Solatube Daylighting Tubular daylighting devices (TDDs) bringing natural light into homes without leaks or structural reframing, Energy Star qualified.
• Automatic Delivery Service Computerized automatic fill program that projects delivery dates based on usage history and weather conditions, with 24-hour emergency service available.
• Installation Services Licensed gas piping and appliance installation services covering gas logs, heaters, fireplaces, water heaters, grills, outdoor kitchens, and awnings.
• Service and Repair Local service department for troubleshooting, diagnosing, and repairing propane and oil appliances including water heaters, furnaces, and fireplaces.
• Customer Portal Online customer portal for viewing energy usage, paying bills, and tracking account history with enhanced support features.
• Tank Monitoring App Mobile application powered by Tank Utility enabling customers to monitor propane tank levels remotely from their cell phone.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tankless water heaters can reduce electric bills by $40 to $90 per month compared to electric tank models
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Pilot Flying J Travel Centers: Travel center operator with a growing propane tank exchange program and truck stop fuel delivery. Adjacent to G&B Energy on propane retail and motor fuel distribution, but serves a fundamentally different customer (transient travelers, trucking fleets) at highway locations.
• North Carolina Propane Gas Association (NCPGA): State-level industry association representing propane retailers and suppliers across North Carolina. G&B Energy operates within this regulatory and trade body, making it an ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• ThompsonGas: Family-owned regional propane distributor operating across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast US, offering propane delivery, service, and appliance sales to residential and commercial customers. Closely comparable to G&B Energy on family ownership, regional footprint, propane delivery model, and appliance cross-sell.
• Gas South: Southeast US natural gas and propane marketer serving residential and commercial customers in Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida. Comparable to G&B Energy on regional residential fuel delivery in the Carolinas and adjacent Southeast, with a stronger emphasis on natural gas versus propane.
• Blossman Gas & Appliance: Family-owned regional propane distributor founded in 1951, operating across the Southeast US with showrooms combining propane delivery, hearth products, grills, and outdoor living. Highly comparable to G&B Energy on regional scale, family ownership, multi-product showrooms, and propane-plus-appliance bundling.

Broad incumbents

• Suburban Propane Partners: Public master limited partnership distributing propane, refined fuels, and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 40+ states. Comparable to G&B Energy on residential propane delivery and automatic refill programs, with significantly larger geographic footprint and capital base.
• Heritage Propane: Mid-Atlantic and Southeast US propane distributor operating under the Heritage/Summit/Tri-Gas brand family, delivering propane to residential and commercial customers. Comparable to G&B Energy on regional propane delivery and customer base, with broader multi-state reach.
• AmeriGas Propane: Largest US retail propane distributor serving residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers across all 50 states. Comparable to G&B Energy on propane delivery, automatic refill programs, and tank monitoring, but operates at vastly greater national scale and offers a broader product portfolio beyond hearth/outdoor living.
• Ferrellgas Partners: National propane distributor with the Blue Rhino tank exchange brand, serving residential, commercial, and agricultural customers across the US. Directly comparable to G&B Energy on propane delivery operations and rural/regional customer mix, but with national distribution and capital-markets access.

Regional players

• Eastern Propane Gas & Service: Regional propane distributor serving the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast US with residential and commercial propane delivery and appliance services. Comparable to G&B Energy on delivery-plus-service model and regional customer base, with somewhat narrower product breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GBENERGYNC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GBenergyNC/videos?flow=grid&view=0
• Facebookfacebook.com/gbenergy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about G and B Energy