Tesoro buys Supervalu gas stations

Minnesota-based Supervalu Inc. has sold its six Spokane and North Idaho Albertsons gas service stations to Tesoro Corp.

A company announcement Wednesday said the locations being taken over by Tesoro are at 1617 Northwest Blvd., 8901 N. Indian Trail Road, 6616 N. Nevada St., 8915 E. Trent Ave. in Spokane Valley, 55 W. Prairie Ave. in Hayden, and 198 W. Ironwood Drive in Coeur d’Alene.

Tesoro acquired 51 Albertsons fuel stations in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, California and Nevada. Other Washington stations acquired are in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, Yakima, Tacoma, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Kingston, Tumwater, Bonney Lake, Burien and Vancouver.

Supervalu also announced it’s selling another 56 fuel centers in the Midwest and Intermountain West states to three other companies.

What happens to workers at the Spokane-area stations is unclear, said Supervalu spokesman Luke Friedrich.

In an email message, Friedrich said Tesoro intends to continue operating all six fuel stations. At the same time Tesoro may leave workers where they are or invite them to interview for a position within the company.

The sale of the stations is part of Supervalu’s goal of shedding secondary operations in order to focus on its primary business of food and groceries, a press release said.

Supervalu said the transactions will be completed this fall. A news release said the sale will allow Supervalu to create fuel reward programs with the companies buying its service stations.