CITGO Shares Brand Building Programs with Retailers

HOUSTON, May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 650 local CITGO retailers and marketers will gather in May to celebrate the rich heritage of CITGO while learning about the brand-building programs for the year ahead. The annual CITGO Retailer Meetings are a forum to share best practices about improving and growing Retailer businesses; learn about new products from leading convenience store vendors; and hear experts talk about trends in the industry that impact daily business.

"Recognizing our Centennial with our marketers and retailers is a fantastic way to thank them for their dedication to the CITGO brand over the years," said Alan Flagg, general manager light oils marketing with CITGO Petroleum Corp.  "We are excited to share our plans for the future and highlight the many ways that we can help them improve their business every day in every way. Our annual Retailer Meetings are an important way for us to connect with the people who are the real faces of the CITGO brand, learning about the programs they like and what additional resources they need from CITGO."

The Northeast Region Retailer meeting was held on May 5, 2010 at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. A second, abbreviated Northeast Region Retailer meeting will be held on May 18, 2010 in Windsor, CT for those retailers and marketers who are unable to attend the meeting at Foxwoods. The Central region meeting is scheduled for May 26, 2010 at the Wilderness Territory Hotel and Golf Resort in Wisconsin Dell, Wis. All three events feature presentations on the state of the industry and the CITGO brand, marketing programs, and advertising plans. Central region retailers will also hear from keynote speakers Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender, who will draw on their more than 70 years of combined retail experience to provide insights on retail solutions in these uncertain economic times.

"We know in today's economy it is important to support small businesses. The locally owned CITGO stations are key drivers in providing new jobs and building strong communities," added Flagg. "Every program we develop, such as our state-of-the-industry loyalty program, is designed to help our retailers thrive. When they succeed, their local communities succeed."

Both meetings feature breakout sessions on key topics such as PCI compliance and fleet programs while sharing experiences and expertise with their peers. In addition, Northeast Region retailers and marketers met convenience store vendors, ranging from storage tank producers to payment card transaction providers, at an exclusive trade show following the main presentation. Finally, a celebratory dinner with prizes and special recognition closes out the events.

CITGO marketers and retailers can learn more about the upcoming events by contacting their local CITGO representative. In addition to the retailer meetings, CITGO is planning a major centennial celebration Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, 2010 which will gather light oils and lubricants marketers to recognize the past 100 years of success, and kick-off a new century of brand excellence. CITGO will also provide company and community engagement updates, which are conducted in alignment with its shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

For more information visit, www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO