who we are
More than just your local bulk fuel and lubricants provider, we are a company that cares.
OUR STORY
Darryl and Janice Meyer became owners/operators of B&A Petroleum Ltd. on April 1, 2007, but that was not the beginning of their story. Darryl literally grew up in the fuel business and was destined to become a bulk fuel dealer.
As early as grade 2, he told his teacher he wanted to be a gas man because he liked the smell of gas, and by the time he was 10 years old, Darryl was helping his dad, Leo, at the Shell bulk plant in Fox Valley where he eventually became a full-time delivery driver.
In 1980, he succumbed to the lure of the city and tried his hand as a management trainee with the Medicine Hat Credit Union. After three short years, Darryl realized his heart was still in the bulk petroleum business, and in 1983, he traded his suit for coveralls and humbly returned to work for his dad, who in the interim had retired from Shell and took over the Gulf Canada bulk plant in Maple Creek under the company name, Meyer’s Fuels.
Petro-Canada bought out Gulf Canada in 1985, and shortly after in 1987, Darryl made two life-altering decisions. He became a business partner with Betty and Leo in the family business and a life partner to Janice in marriage. For the next couple of years, Darryl did double duty at the office driving truck during the day and on weekends and converting the company from manual to computerized systems by night while Janice pursued her career as a teacher.
By 1991, Darryl and Janice had established strong roots in Maple Creek and had begun to develop a vision for the future direction of Meyer’s Fuels Ltd. So, when Leo and Betty expressed their intention to retire, Darryl and Janice welcomed the opportunity to buy them out and immediately took steps to restructure the company by expanding their territory from Maple Creek to Fox Valley and rebranding the company under Meyer’s Fuels (1991) Ltd.
They opened a satellite office and cardlock in Fox Valley and invested in new delivery trucks. Additionally, they strategically changed the scope of their business by diversifying their products and services to include livestock minerals, feed, salt and twine. The next several years brought many changes as the business and their family grew simultaneously. With four active children, they were both very involved personally and professionally in their community and focused on establishing a strong business presence in their territory as an agent for Petro Canada.
In 1993, Meyer’s Fuel’s (1991) Ltd. became a satellite of Nelson Petro Products through the amalgamation of the Maple Creek and Swift Current territories as part of Petro Canada’s restructuring initiative. For the next 10 years, Darryl operated the bulk fuel and lubricant business as a satellite under Harley and Judy Nelson, but continued to own and operate a livestock feed and TBA business under Meyer’s Fuel’s (1991) Ltd.
When Harley retired in 2003, Bryan Rostie, owner of B&A Petroleum Ltd. in the Assiniboia/Gravelbourg Territory became the wholesale marketer for the Swift Current Territory further amalgamating the two territories. Bryan operated the newly expanded Swift Current Territory as B&A Petroleum Ltd. for nearly five years before he retired.
Anticipating this opening presented a fantastic opportunity, Darryl and Janice pursued the chance to become the new marketers. With Petro Canada’s approval, they took over the Swift Current Territory on April 1, 2007 and relocated their family in the fall.
In an effort to maintain continuity, they kept the name B&A Petroleum Ltd. and consolidated all their business ventures. Recognizing the potential for expansion again, they developed a plan to broaden their territory beyond the communities and municipalities of Swift Current, Assiniboia, Fox Valley, Gravelbourg, Mankota, Maple Creek, Ponteix, Eastend, Pennant and LaFleche and entered into negotiations with Petro Canada for a facility which resulted in a cardlock at Shaunavon in 2014.
Between 2009 and 2015, Darryl and Janice also incorporated Flaman Rentals into their operations at Maple Creek, Swift Current, Assiniboia and Shaunavon, while concurrently expanding their sales of livestock feed and supplements at other B&A Petroleum Ltd. locations. In addition to the Maple Creek location, these products became available at Swift Current, Assiniboia, Shaunavon, and Mankota. They further invested in cardlocks in Richmound (2012), and Val Marie (2014). Sadly, due to circumstances beyond their control, a difficult decision was made to close the Ponteix location in 2013.
Today, B&A Petroleum Ltd. has 12 cardlocks and 4 bulk stations throughout the Southwest corner of Saskatchewan, and their customer cardlock cards facilitate access to a network of Petro Canada stations across Canada. A fleet of over 20 trucks including super bees, tandems and pups, cube trucks and a bulk oil truck ensures that a continuous supply of product is available to their customers. The staff is comprised of over 50 enterprising employees, many of whom have a long history with the company.
B&A Petroleum Ltd.’s business model is founded on a shared desire for excellence through safety, customer satisfaction, service and top-notch products. The staff’s combined experience, product knowledge and dedication assure first rate customer service, reliable product information and the best products to meet customer needs. The focus is not just limited to products and services. It is important to the team to connect with people and care about the things they care about. They genuinely care about people, communities and the environment and aspire to support community events, clubs and organizations, athletic teams, charities, and local initiatives through sponsorship, donations and prizes.
B&A Petroleum Ltd. is a family business that operates with family values. Darryl and Janice consider their team of loyal employees members of the B&A family and each one is invaluable for their contributions to the success of the business. In keeping with a family business, Darryl and Janice have always been supportive of family involvement in the business. A number of family members have been part of the staff complement at various times.
In the past, the Fox Valley location’s staff has included Darryl’s father (Leo), brother (Warren), and sister (Charlotte) and currently includes sister-in-law (Donita) and cousin (Shelley). Three of Darryl and Janice’s four daughters worked casually in the office during their high school and post-secondary years.
Presently, the family legacy continues with three of their immediate family members pursuing a future in the business. Skye (daughter) has been with the company the longest starting in 2010 when she began permanent employment in customer service. Currently, she shares her knowledge of, and passion for safety as the Safety Manager. Derrek Sutter (Son-in-law) left a career with SaskTel in 2017 to join the team. His diverse skill set, abundant technical knowledge and innovative ideas are key contributions in his role as General Operations Manager. Most recently, Peyton (daughter) resigned from MNP to join the family business in 2019 as an Executive Assistant and General Manager Trainee. Her business acumen and accounting experience have made her a real asset to the team. Their involvement is fundamental to establishing a threshold for maintaining a family-owned business into the next generation.
Throughout the years, Darryl would be the first to admit that this industry has its ups and downs, but he and Janice have remained steadfast in their commitment to farming, ranching, oil and gas, construction, transportation and commercial businesses. While these sectors represent the majority of B&A’s Petroleum Ltd.’s customer base, all customers are welcome and valued.
Darryl, Janice and their team are proud to be in partnership with Petro Canada, their suppliers, customers and communities, and look forward to maintaining old relationships and establishing new ones. After 40 some years in business, Darryl still loves what he does and is truly invested in providing personalized service to the people he has the privilege of doing business with. If you stop in for a chat or give him a call, at some point he will probably tell you, “I enjoy my customers. I love when they walk out the door with a smile on their face. I am over 60 years old, and I still never complain about coming to work in the morning.”
