ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In a move that will expand the Alon Brands and 7-Eleven footprint by 50% and see a retailer exit the convenience-store business, Alon Brands has acquired 14 c-stores from family-owned Roberts Oil Co., bringing its total store count in the Albuquerque market to 38.

Of the 14 stores, 10 are in Albuquerque, and the rest are in Los Lunas, Moriarty, Mountainair and Socorro, N.M., according to a report by The Albuquerque Journal. The stores have operated under the Roberts Oil, Pump-N-Save, Phillips 66/Kicks 66 names.

As reported in a 21st Century Smoke/CSP Daily News Flash, starting August 17, all of the locations are being converted to ALON/7-Eleven stores. The company said it will complete the rebranding within the next 90 days.

The sale was bittersweet for the owners of Roberts Oil, who are exiting the convenience-store business. The company sold 14 stores sold to Alon Brands, it has one other store under contract to another buyer and it is selling three stores to be repurposed for alternative use, a spokesperson for Alon Brands told CSP Daily News.

“After more than 40 years of serving the Albuquerque community, the decision to sell was not an easy one for our family,” said Karon Roberts of Roberts Oil Co. “However, we’re confident that our business, our employees and our customers are in good hands with ALON/7-Eleven, and we’re looking forward to seeing the positive changes ALON has planned for the stores.”

Eric Corley, regional manager for Alon Brands in Albuquerque, said the company will continue to employ all Roberts Oil team members, including store associates and managers. The deal will create additional jobs, the company said.

“This expansion is part of a significant investment we’re making in the Albuquerque region,” said Corley. “In addition to growing the ALON/7-Eleven footprint by more than 50%, we also just finished remodeling all of our locations in the area and built a brand new store in Rio Rancho. I’m proud of the commitment the company has made and will continue to make to this community and our customers here in Albuquerque.”

The companies celebrate the acquisition with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Slurpee toast on August 18 at one of the new ALON/7-Eleven stores. Alon Brands also made a donation to A Park Above–created to assist and support the efforts of the City of Rio Rancho’s Parks & Recreation to build and maintain play equipment in a green environment–in honor of the late Bill Roberts of Roberts Oil.

Based in Dallas, Alon Brands markets ALON motor fuel products at more than 800 locations. The largest U.S. licensee of 7-Eleven, the company owns and operates more than 300 convenience stores in Texas and New Mexico.