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From 1 July 2011, for the first time in its 110-year history, the global brand of Gulf Oil will be available in New Zealand.
ANZPAC Oils Limited is the exclusive distributor of Gulf Oil in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. ANZPAC is a wholly owned subsidiary of New Zealand farmer owned rural supplies cooperative CRT.
Lubricants are an important farm input and this opportunity arose from CRT’s quest to deliver top quality product at competitive prices to the co-ops 25,000 shareholders. Gulf Oil will also be distributed by CRT Fuel to its customers in the commercial bulk fuel market. CRT chief executive Brent Esler says the move will not only provide a very competitive offer to shareholders, it will also create significant value for them in the larger business opportunity outside of CRT. “Our wholly owned subsidiary CRT Fuel now distributes bulk fuel nationwide and we have lacked a credible lubricants offer to take to our customers. Gulf provides an answer to what was increasingly becoming a constraint on our fuel business, and of course it will be available through our 31 retail stores in the South Island.”
 Mr Esler, who is also ANZPAC Oil’s managing director, says this is a very exciting opportunity as the Gulf brand is highly recognized and valued globally, it also has a very strong connection with New Zealand.
From the 1930’s at Indianappolis, to the 1960’s Ford GT40’s at Le Mans, and to the Formula 1 Grand Prix and Can-Am series, the Gulf brand and motor racing have been inextricably linked. Iin the latter part of the 1960’s New Zealanders were a prominent part of the mix of Gulf and motorsport.
In fact there’s a good question for your next quiz evening. What does American acting legend Steve McQueen have in common with New Zealanders Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme and Chris Amon? If you said motor racing at Le Mans you’d be right. And if you said that all four wore Gulf Oil branded suits at some time in their careers we’d give you full points.
 Bruce McLaren particularly gave Gulf Oil huge prestige in the United States. From 1967 to 1970 McLaren cars won 32 of 37 Can-Am races, dominating the then richest championship in the world to the extent that it was dubbed The Bruce and Denny Show.
In a short seven-year period Bruce McLaren was to mastermind the design and construction of racing cars that were the world’s best in three major classes. Formula One – Can Am – Indianapolis, supported every step of the way by Gulf Oil.
Mr Esler says this history provides an exciting opportunity to share past achievements with New Zealanders and provides a platform to bring an internationally significant range of quality lubricants into the market. Gulf remains active to this day at Le Mans, most recently sponsoring the Aston Martin Racing Team. 
“Many Kiwis will already be familiar with the Gulf brand from travelling overseas, where it’s not just about oil but is also a strong retail service station brand. To be able to bring a range with international status into New Zealand is one thing, but given the strong connections with New Zealand motorspoprts finest hours, I think we’ve got a really good brand story to celebrate.”
The Gulf range of lubricants extends from the latest specification and highest performance products, through to more economical and robust products suitable for use in older equipment. All of Gulf's products are made to exacting quality standards.
For more information
Brent Esler, Managing Director ANZPAC Oils
Mobile: 027 436 1762
Email: brent.esler@gulfoil.co.nz
Website: www.gulfoil.co.nz
Downloads available
Gulf Logo (EPS, 1MB)
Photograph of Brent Esler with Gulf Ford GT40 (JPEG, 1MB)
Gulf Brand Product Display (JPEG, 500kb)
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