Fairgrove Oil Company

What Fairgrove Oil Company does

Fairgrove Oil Company (also operating as Fairgrove Oil & Propane) is a family-owned fuel and energy distribution business founded in 1928 by E.F. Gehrls and headquartered at 1788 South Main St, Fairgrove, Michigan. The company delivers propane, ultra low sulfur #1 and #2 fuel oil, gasoline, racing fuels, bulk lubricants, and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) to residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers across Bay, Huron, Lapeer, Saginaw, and Tuscola Counties in Mid-Michigan, with racing fuel distribution extending to the Upper Peninsula. It also operates a retail convenience store at its headquarters location, selling pump gasoline, ethanol-free REC 89, on-road and off-road diesel, snacks, beverages, lottery, and basic groceries seven days a week.

Since 1995 the company has held exclusive Sunoco Race Fuel distribution rights for Mid-Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, offering a complete line from E-85 through 116 octane race fuels to motorsport customers in motocross, super-cross, drag racing, sprint cars, snowmobiles, and boat racing. Its product portfolio is supported by a 24-hour transport division that delivers refined fuels (ethanol-blended gasoline, methanol, on-road and off-road diesel, race fuels) in quantities as small as 100 gallons to commercial and industrial accounts, sourced from multiple Michigan terminals, and a bulk lubricants and DEF line covering 15w40, 5w20, 5w30, and 10w30 motor oils, hydraulic fluids, and transmission fluids in pails, drums, cases, 55-gallon drums, and 330-gallon totes.

Fairgrove Oil generates revenue primarily through usage-based per-gallon pricing — propane at $1.89/gallon (minimum 200 gallons), #1 fuel oil at $6.04/gallon, and #2 fuel oil at $5.49/gallon (minimum 150 gallons). Revenue is supplemented by subscription-style pricing programs that lock customers in for the heating season: a Pre-Buy contract requiring advance payment for a minimum of 500 gallons, a Budget contract spreading costs across 10 monthly payments (August through May), a Price Cap program, and an Automatic Delivery plan using computerized degree-day scheduling. Ancillary revenue comes from tank leasing, safety inspections, leak tests ($75), same-day emergency deliveries ($75 base, $250 after-hours minimum), and convenience-store transactions. No proprietary software or technology platform has been disclosed; the business operates traditional direct-to-consumer and direct-sales delivery models with phone-based ordering, online customer application forms, and online payment options.

Name

Fairgrove Oil Company

Legal name

Fairgrove Oil & Propane

Website

https://fairgroveoil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fairgrove Oil Company is a family-owned fuel and energy distributor founded in 1928, serving Mid-Michigan and the Upper Peninsula with propane, heating oil, racing fuels, lubricants, DEF, and a retail convenience store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fuel Distribution and Energy Services

NAICS

Fuel Dealers (457210), Fuel Dealers (45721), Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (45711)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172)

akta.pro primary industry

Branded Fuels Wholesaling & Jobber Distribution (EUALAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial & Fleet Fueling (Cardlock, On-Site Tanks, Bulk Delivery) (EUALAIAD), Industrial Lubricants (Hydraulics, Gear, Compressor, Turbine, Metalworking) (EUALAJAG)

Keywords

• Propane delivery
• Home heating oil
• Racing fuels
• Bulk lubricants
• Convenience store

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairgrove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Propane Sales and Delivery: Propane gas sales to residential, commercial, and agricultural customers with multiple delivery options including automatic delivery, will-call, and emergency same-day service. Revenue generated through per-gallon pricing with minimum order requirements of 200 gallons. Additional revenue from tank leasing and safety inspection services.
2. Fuel Oil Sales: Ultra low sulfur #1 and #2 fuel oil sales for home heating. Minimum delivery of 150 gallons for fuel oil. Revenue generated per gallon with pricing varying by fuel type.
3. Pricing Programs (Pre-Buy and Budget Contracts): Pre-Buy contracts allow customers to lock in prices for the heating season by prepaying for estimated gallon usage. Budget contracts spread heating costs into 10 monthly payments from August through May. These programs generate predictable revenue and customer lock-in.
4. Sunoco Racing Fuels: Exclusive Sunoco Race Fuel provider serving Mid-Michigan to Upper Peninsula. Products range from E-85 to 116 octane race fuels sold in quantities from one gallon to bulk delivery. Multiple fuel grades for various motorsport applications including motocross, drag racing, sprint cars, snowmobiles, and boat racing.
5. Transport and Wholesale Fuels: 24-hour transport division serving commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers with refined fuels including ethanol-blended gasoline, methanol, on-road and off-road diesel, and race fuels. Delivers in quantities as small as 100 gallons with competitive wholesale pricing from Michigan terminals.
6. Bulk Lubricants and DEF: Bulk lubricant sales including 15w40, 5w20, 5w30, 10w30 oils, hydraulic fluid, and automatic transmission fluids. Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sold in bulk, 55-gallon drums, and 330-gallon totes. Serves retailers, farm equipment operators, and fleet operators.
7. Convenience Store: Retail convenience store selling unleaded gasoline, REC 89 (ethanol-free), on-road and off-road diesel, snacks, beverages, lottery, frozen foods, and basic groceries. Store open seven days a week with extended hours. Race gas available by appointment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fairgrove Oil & Propane is a family-owned regional energy company that sells and delivers propane, ultra low sulfur #1 and #2 home heating oil, Sunoco racing fuels, and bulk lubricants/DEF to residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers across Mid-Michigan. The company also operates a retail convenience store selling gasoline, diesel, ethanol-free fuel, snacks, beverages, and basic groceries, and runs a 24/7 transport division for wholesale fuel delivery.

Product overview

Fairgrove Oil & Propane is a family-owned energy company operating since 1928, serving Mid-Michigan communities. The company operates as a single-brand fuel and energy retailer offering a unified portfolio of fuel products and services. Core offerings include propane delivery for residential heating and appliances (with Pre-Buy, Budget, and Automatic Delivery pricing programs), home heating oil (#1 and #2 fuel oil), Sunoco racing fuels (octane ratings 98-116), and bulk lubricants. Additional services include a convenience store (with gasoline, diesel, ethanol-free fuel, and retail goods), 24/7 transport/fleet fuel delivery for commercial customers, and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). All offerings are sold and delivered directly to customers through the company's own service infrastructure with no modular software platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Propane Delivery Residential and commercial propane gas delivery service with automatic delivery, will-call, and emergency same-day options. Serves homeowners for home heating, cooking, water heating, clothes drying, and fireplace use. Minimum 200 gallons per delivery with optional tank leasing.
• Home Heating Oil Ultra low sulfur #1 and #2 fuel oil delivery for home heating. Includes automatic delivery and 24-hour service options. Minimum 150 gallons per delivery. Serves Michigan homeowners as a clean home heating alternative.
• Sunoco Racing Fuels Complete line of Sunoco race fuels including E-85, E-98, and octane ratings from 98 to 116 for motocross, super-cross, drag racing, sprint cars, snowmobiles, and boat racing. Available in quantities from one gallon to bulk delivery.
• Bulk Lubricants

Quantifiable outcome

• Propane costs approximately half as much per BTU as electricity
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sunoco Race FuelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1995Fairgrove Oil is the exclusive Sunoco Race Fuel provider for Mid-Michigan to the Upper Peninsula. The partnership began in 1995 when the company expanded from home heating to include racing fuel sales. The relationship provides access to a complete line of Sunoco race fuels from E-85 to 116 octane for various motorsport applications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Casey's General Stores: Large convenience store operator with integrated fuel sales across 17+ Midwestern states including Michigan. Competes with Fairgrove's convenience store plus fueling model and operates an extended-hours retail footprint comparable in concept, though at significantly larger scale.
• AmeriGas Propane: Largest U.S. propane distributor by volume, a subsidiary of UGI Corporation, serving residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers nationwide. Directly comparable propane product offering to Fairgrove, with significantly broader geographic footprint, fleet, and digital ordering capabilities.
• Suburban Propane Partners: National propane, fuel oil, and refined fuels distributor serving residential, commercial, and agricultural customers across 40+ states. Overlaps with Fairgrove on propane and heating oil delivery while operating a substantially larger asset base and customer footprint.
• Sunoco LP: Master limited partnership focused on motor fuel distribution and midstream energy logistics, owner of the Sunoco brand. Directly comparable as the upstream brand whose race fuels Fairgrove distributes exclusively; reflects the supplier side of Fairgrove's motorsport niche.
• Ferrellgas Partners: Large publicly traded propane distributor serving residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers across all 50 states. Overlaps directly with Fairgrove's propane delivery business but operates at vastly greater scale with national tank-monitoring and e-commerce infrastructure.
• Marathon Petroleum (Marathon Retail): Major U.S. refiner with a downstream retail/convenience and wholesale fuels business across the Midwest. Comparable in branded wholesale fuel distribution and convenience store with fuel, though at a vastly different scale.
• Pilot Flying J: Largest North American operator of travel centers and truck stops, combining commercial fleet fueling with convenience retail and foodservice. Comparable to Fairgrove at the intersection of commercial/retail fuel sales and convenience store operations, though focused on highway and freight corridors.

Direct peers

• Crystal Flash: Grand Rapids, Michigan-based regional fuel and lubricant distributor serving residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial customers across the Midwest with propane, heating oil, gasoline, diesel, and lubricants. Operates in a similar geographic corridor and offers a directly comparable multi-product regional delivery model.

Others

• DTE Energy: Michigan's largest investor-owned utility providing natural gas and electric service across the state. Relevant as the alternative to propane/oil heating and as a potential adjacent infrastructure partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Consumers Energy: Michigan's largest natural gas and electric utility, serving residential heating customers across Fairgrove's geography. Relevant as the natural gas alternative competing with Fairgrove's propane and heating oil delivery services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgPFa3FUYo5Ke7OKvMZSzsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/FairgroveOilCo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fairgrove-oil-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Fairgrove Oil Company