Top executives from Mighty Distributing System of
America (Mighty Auto Parts) recently returned from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where
they signed a Master Distributorship Agreement with Petromin Corp., which is
headquartered there.
Samir Nawar, president and CEO of Petromin Corp. and Ken Voelker, president and CEO of Mighty Distributing System.
The new strategic alliance effectively makes Petromin
Mighty’s distributor in select countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
The 10-year agreement covers the exclusive distribution of Mighty-branded and
Petromin-Mighty co-branded products in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Egypt, Libya and
Southern Sudan.
“Petromin is a bourgeoning enterprise of
market-leading lubricant brands in this part of the world,” Ken Voelker,
President and CEO of Mighty. “The addition of automotive service products as a
complement for Petromin’s more than 5,000 automotive service facilities is
consistent with the direction of the leading lubricant distributors here in the
United States. This is the perfect fit for helping them to meet their
aggressive growth objectives.”
Since January 2011, Mighty has been providing
automotive products, including oil filters, air filters, cabin air filters,
wiper blades and select chemicals, for Petromin’s quick service chain, Petromin
Express, comprised of 155 locations throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with
distribution hubs in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam. It is the largest quick service
chain in the world outside the United States, according to Mighty.
“Our sales volume figures for Petromin Express have
been quite impressive,” said Petromin Executive VP Sajid Saeed. “Mighty has
skillfully positioned Petromin to build sales in many other markets.”
Mighty services historically include inventory
controls, sales and technical training, marketing tools, electronic cataloging
and trouble-shooting, tech tips and consumer education materials.
Samir Nawar, president and CEO of Petromin Corp., and
principal signatory, added, “The agreement with Mighty represents a solid
foundation for a lasting relationship with significant long-term potential for
both companies not only in Saudi Arabia but far beyond.”
The Petromin Express chain is managed by quick service
industry veteran Jim Harrington, who previously held management positions at
Valvoline Instant Oil Change and Victory Lane.
Harrington commented, “Having used the Mighty system
in the States, I was familiar with the unique benefits for quick service
operations. For example, the ease of use with Mighty’s fuel system cleaning
products was a big plus when we introduced this service to that part of the
world. We have plans to roll out several additional services using Mighty
products and programs as Saudi consumers are quickly catching on to America’s
appreciation for the importance of automotive maintenance.”
Mighty Distributing System of America, a franchisor of
sales and service in aftermarket auto parts, is based in Norcross, GA, and
oversees 110 distributors in 43 states. The company’s system of providing
inventory management expertise, face-to-face service and OEM quality undercar
and underhood parts has attracted independent repair shops, quick lubes, tire
centers and new car dealerships across the nation and internationally. Mighty’s
unique service, directly and exclusively to automotive professionals, began in
1963 in Maryland and the District of Columbia.