RIL in marketing deal with Gulf Oil

Reliance Industries (RIL) has entered into a marketing tie-up with Gulf Oil Corporation (GOCL) for the sale of the company's car care products through Reliance fuel stations in the country.

By the end of this month, RIL will be expanding its fuel-retail network to 1,000 stations. Out of this, 600 stations will have dedicated retail outlets for GOCL products, sources said.

An MoU has been signed between both the companies and GOCL products will hit the shelf by April this year.

Its for the first time that Hinduja group-owned GOCL, a major lubricant manufacturer, has entered into marketing alliance with RIL. Reliance Industries officials refused to comment.

"Gulf Oil already has a retail tie-up with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for selling car care products. This is test marketing, which cover just 5 cities. Depending on its performance, we will decide on starting full-fledged marketing through more IOC pumps," N C Sekharan, head, lubes, said.

He added the tie-up with RIL would help the company to grab bigger market share for its products.

"Some more legal formalities are pending to complete the process. We signed the MoU with RIL recently and the deal will be finalised next month. The formalities of marketing tie-up with IOC will also be finalised at the same time," he said.

GOCL, has tied up with Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) for retail sale of truck lubricants in 2,000 outlets. The alliance would be operational in a year.

Truck service stations will also be set up at these stations by Ashok Leyland, Hinduja Group's flagship company.

Gulf Oil Corporation has a range of car care products such as lubricants, tyre inflating devices, air condition neutraliser, glass and crystal cleaner, dash board polish, multi-functional fluid, tyre black and vax spray.

"These are high-end products in quality available in the market. The company plans to add new distributors to its chain soon for pushing these products through retail points across the country,'' Sekharan said.