- Blue Rhino
Infobox_Company
company_name = Blue Rhino
company_
company_type = Business Unit ofFerrellgas NYSE : [http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/overview.asp?symbol=FGP.N FGP]
foundation =1994
founder = Billy Prim
location_city = flagicon|USA Winston-Salem,North Carolina
location_country =USA
homepage = [http://www.bluerhino.com/ www.bluerhino.com]Blue Rhino was cofounded in 1994 by Billy Prim and
Andrew Filipowski , bothNorth Carolina businessmen, with the goal of building a national brand ofpropane tank exchange that would capitalize on the growth in gas grill sales and year-roundgrilling . At the time, propane tank exchange was viewed as a commodity and a large number of consumers got their tanks filled by various vendors.A national distribution network was constructed and retailer partnerships were established. Today, the distribution network maintains a presence in all fifty states,
Puerto Rico . The company was named Blue Rhino after the strong, tough, interesting and fun-loving animals Prim had admired on a trip toAfrica .In April 2004, Blue Rhino was acquired by
Ferrellgas , the nation's second largest propane retailer andFortune 1000 company, for approximately $340 million USD. The venture provided Ferrellgas with a presence in the growing propane tank exchange market, and Blue Rhino's headquarters remained inWinston-Salem, NC .Blue Rhino is also a leading designer and marketer of barbecue grills, outdoor heaters, mosquito elimination
appliances and other outdoor appliances.Blue Rhino is also the organization behind Rhino-Power, a
carbon dioxide cylinder that is able to be exchanged at retailers across the country. Rhino-Power has a variety of uses, but is primarily used as a propellant for bothpaintball guns and construction tools.External links
* [http://www.bluerhino.com/ Blue Rhino web site]
* [http://www.ferrellgas.com/ Ferrellgas web site]
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