Our History

From our early days as a welding and gas supplier in the New York City area to today as one of the largest propane companies in the United States, we've developed a rich history at Paraco. Created by visionary entrepreneur, Pat Armentano in 1968, our family-owned business, continues to flourish under the leadership of his son, Joseph Armentano.

Scan our timeline below to learn more about our roots and our growth.

1968

Pat Armentano forms Patsems, Inc., a welding supply distributor based in Mount Vernon, New York.

December 1979

Patsems purchases Paraco Fuel Corporation, a fuel oil and propane distributor in Peekskill, New York. The transaction adds 500,000 gallons of retail propane and 700,000 gallons of No. #2 oil.

June 1985

Paraco purchases Suburban Propane’s Long Island operation in Smithtown and Shirley, New York. Annual sales purchased included 2.5 million gallons in retail propane.

January 1987

Joe Armentano promoted to CEO. Pat Armentano becomes Chairman of the Board.

July 1994

Paraco purchases Furman Gas Company in Ballston Spa, New York, a 500,000-gallon propane distributor. This was the company’s first acquisition in upstate New York.

December 1996

Paraco sells its industrial gas interests to AGA Gas, Inc.

Paraco purchases Airgas Northeast bulk propane division in Stratford, Connecticut, a 1.2 million-gallon propane distributor.

August 2004

Paraco purchases the assets and customer lists of AmeriGas from their New Hyde Park, New York and Catskill, New York, locations, acquiring a total of approximately 1 million gallons.

July 2005

Paraco purchases Long Island Bottled Gas in Bay Shore, New York. The purchase includes 550,000 gallons of retail propane and adds nearly 4,000 customers. The location, which includes 90,000 gallons of propane storage, also allows Paraco to divest its Smithtown property.

Paraco purchases AmeriGas in Brewster, New York. The purchase includes 650,000 gallons of retail propane and adds 1,600 customers.

August

Paraco purchases Traugers LP Gas in Dalton, Pennsylvania. The purchase, Paraco’s first entry into the Pennsylvania market, includes 700,000 gallons of retail propane and adds more than 1,700 customers.

January 2006

Paraco purchases Colonial Gas in Saugerties and Tannersville, New York. This purchase includes 2.3 million gallons of retail propane and adds 6,500 customers. This acquisition, when combined with Paraco’s existing locations, creates a “Super Region” in the Hudson Valley.

November

Paraco purchases Rounds Propane in Brackney, Pennsylvania. This purchase, which furthers Paraco’s reach in the Pennsylvania market, includes 1.2 million gallons of retail propane and adds 2,200 customers.

October 2007

Paraco purchases Blackstone Propane, enabling expansion into Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The purchase includes 400,000 retail gallons and adds 1,000 customers.

December

Paraco purchases Blue Flame Gas in Dennisville, New Jersey, the company’s first acquisition in New Jersey. The purchase includes 1.9 million retail gallons and adds approximately 4,000 customers in Cape May, Atlantic, and Cumberland counties.

October 2008

Paraco purchases the propane assets and customer list of HL Propane in New Lebanon, New York. The purchase includes 1.2 million retail gallons and adds 1,700 customers.

February 2009

Paraco purchases the New York operations of Able Energy in Warrensburg, New York, adding 750,000 gallons of propane and 1,750 customers in towns and municipalities throughout Warren, Saratoga, Washington, and Essex counties.

September

Paraco purchases the propane assets and customer list of Smokey Heller & Sons in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. The purchase includes 500,000 gallons of retail propane and adds 1,900 customers.

March 2010

Paraco purchases Eastern Shore Propane & Appliance in Belle Haven, Virginia and Bowden Gas in Norfolk, Virginia. The combined locations add more than 500,000 gallons and enables expansion into a new territory for Paraco.

November

Paraco purchases Vitale Bottled Gas in Bohemia, New York. The transaction includes more than 2 million gallons of retail propane and adds 6,500 residential and commercial customers throughout Long Island.

January 2012

Paraco enters into joint ventures with Georgia-based Atlanta Propane Exchange, Florida-based Florida Lift Gas and Illinois-based Tri-State Propane Exchange. The combined total of retail gallons for all three companies is approximately 3,000,000. The transaction expands Paraco’s territory in motor fuel and exchange.

Paraco opens a regional headquarters location under the name Paraco South in Charlotte, North Carolina. This location enables the company to better serve and support new joint venture partners. This location is now home to the Paraco marketing department and inside sales teams as well as the executive offices for Paraco South.

June

Paraco purchases Cloyd Howard Company in Walden, New York, adding 300,000 gallons of retail propane and 2,000 residential and commercial customers.

September

Paraco South LLC announces opening of South Florida Lift Gas in Miami, Florida.

February 2013

Paraco South opens Denver Propane Exchange in Brighton, Colorado servicing the Greater Denver area.

August

Paraco acquires the Long Island, New York, customer base of AmeriGas. With the acquisition, Paraco will now have 40,000 customers on Long Island.

August 2014

Paraco South opens Mid-Atlantic Propane Exchange servicing the Baltimore, Maryland area.

Entered into Joint Venture with Gateway Propane servicing the Greater St. Louis metro area.

December

Opened Nashville Propane Exchange in Nashville, Tennessee.

January 2015

Paraco acquires the propane division of Kingston Oil Supply Corp. (Kosco) and forms a strategic partnership with their fuel oil business. The acquisition and alliance will offer various benefits to both companies’ customers, as well as an array of products and services. Customers can expect to further benefit from marketing and energy programs.

Paraco South enters into a Joint Venture with North Carolina Propane Exchange servicing the Greater Charlotte, NC metro area.

July-December 2017

A notable year for Paraco marked by 3 key acquisitions; Long Island’s Island Propane and Bay Gas, further expanding its presence and reach on Long Island; and the strategically-aligned joint venture entered between Kingston Oil Supply Corp and Heritagenergy, now KoscoHeritage.

December 2018

Paraco purchases the propane division of Martin’s Oil and Gas in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, expanding our current footprint in the area.

October 2020

Paraco acquired F M Popovich & Sons, Ashland, Massachusetts.

December 2020

Paraco Gas expands in New Jersey, by acquiring Advantage Propane (Califon, NJ), adding 1.2 million gallons to our portfolio.

October 2021

Paraco acquired Pennsylvania-based Warner's Propane & Oil (Gilbert, PA), expanding our current footprint in the area.