Blue Rhino
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Blue Rhino was founded in 1994 by Billy Prim, a North Carolina businessman, with the goal of building a national brand of propane tank exchange that would capitalize on the growth in gas grill sales and year-round grilling. 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, and Canada. The company was named Blue Rhino after the strong, tough, interesting and fun-loving animals Prim had admired on a trip to Africa.
In 2003, Blue Rhino was acquired by Ferrellgas, the nation's second largest propane retailer and Fortune 1000 company. The venture provided Ferrellgas with a presence in the growing propane tank exchange market, and Blue Rhino's headquarters remained in Winston-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 both paintball guns and construction tools.
