LPG Spotlight: J.S. West & Cos.

May 29, 2026 By Keith Loria 0 Comments

Family has always been at the center of J.S. West & Cos., shaping not only its culture but its long-term approach to growth.

“We don’t sell businesses – we pass them down,” says Mike West, president of the company.

Founded in 1909 by West’s great-grandfather, the company began by supplying coal for home heating while also serving agricultural customers with livestock. More than 100 years later, that dual focus on energy and agriculture remains intact.

“We do the same thing we did on day one, but we do it in a different way – and we feel in a far better way,” West says.

Today, propane has become a central piece of that evolution. Serving residential, commercial and agricultural customers across California, J.S. West has steadily grown its propane operations, particularly in support of the state’s farming sector.

“We see propane as a vital energy source moving forward for many people in the state,” West says. “And we want to be here to help them.”

That growth has been supported by significant investments in infrastructure. In late 2023, the company opened a large distribution facility in Kerman, California, featuring more than 500,000 gallons of storage and robust rail capabilities. Combined with additional assets across its footprint, J.S. West now has access to roughly 4 million gallons of propane storage capacity, including 540,000 gallons of tank storage with the ability to store propane in 40-plus rail cars in Kerman. Its total storage capacity at the Kerman facility is 1.7 million gallons.

The company has also expanded its network of terminals and storage locations throughout northern and central California, strengthening supply reliability and supporting continued growth in retail and wholesale propane markets, servicing the foothills of Tuolumne County out of Sonora as well as the Highway 80/Interstate 5 corridor out of West Sacramento.

On the retail side, modernization is a key focus. Brian Arbini, vice president of retail propane, noted that the company is implementing tank-monitoring technology across its network.

“That helps our route efficiency and decreases our carbon footprint on the road,” Arbini says.

Despite these advancements, leadership points to relationships as a familiar driver of success.

“We are very customer-centric,” Arbini says. “We focus on our customers and customer service. We’re a family-owned business, and we treat our customers like they’re part of our family.”

That mindset extends across the company’s broader operations, which also include egg production and feed manufacturing – segments that have long complemented the propane business.

“When one part of the business is struggling, another helps carry us through,” West says.

With the fifth generation of the West family now actively involved, J.S. West is focused on long-term continuity as much as growth. In an industry where many family-owned companies have been sold, the company remains committed to independence and community.

“We’re not going anywhere,” West says.

Company Profile: J.S. West & Cos.

Year founded // 1909
Headquarters // Modesto, California
Founder // James Stewart West
Owner // West family (fifth generation)
Retail gallons sold 2025 // 26 million
Employees // 320
Retail fleet (including cylinder trucks) // 60 vehicles

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