Little General Store Propane Explosion - US Chemical Safety and ...

Little General Store September 2008
1.3 Little General Store, Inc.
Little General Store, Inc. operates 48 convenience stores throughout southern and central West Virginia
and western Virginia. The Ghent store was a combination gasoline station and convenience market. At
the time of the incident, the Ghent store and three others included pizzerias, which used propane for
cooking.
1.4 Little General Store Propane Suppliers
1.4.1 Southern Sun
Southern Sun supplied propane to Little General beginning in late 1994. Southern Sun was a family-
owned propane, heating oil, and ice supplier located in south central West Virginia. In 1996 Southern
Sun sold its propane operations to Ferrellgas, which became the supplier to Little General.
1.4.2 Ferrellgas
Ferrellgas, headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, is the second-largest propane marketer in the United
States, with offices and customers in all 50 states. One of Ferrellgas’ business strategies is to “expand
operations through disciplined acquisitions and internal growth.” Since 1986 Ferrellgas has acquired 166
propane distributors throughout the United States.
Late in 2006, Little General initiated a change in propane suppliers from Ferrellgas to ThompsonGas
Propane Partners.
1.4.3 Thompson Gas and Electric Service, Inc.
Thompson is a privately held company that installs commercial and residential propane systems and
delivers propane in the eastern and southeastern United States.
8