Top Propane Retailers share keys to success in 2025

We’re glad you’re reading articles from our February 2025 issue, because this is a special issue for us – and for you.

Not only does this issue feature three exclusives full of information for the propane industry (Top Retailers, Rising Leaders and the Suppliers Guide), but it also gives us an opportunity to connect with our readers.

Those of you who completed a Top Retailers application for our 2025 rankings know that, in addition to the standard company information and gallon sales figures, we ask several questions about the retail propane business. We ask for your perspectives on key topics, and we appreciate when you take the time to share.

One of those questions for this year: What factor(s) will define the success of your company in 2025?

We received a variety of answers, and many covered some of the more familiar industry and business topics that we hear from retailers. They focused on customer service and satisfaction, efficiencies, employees, growth, margins, safety, technology and weather. Several responses are worth sharing.

About the importance of employees:

• “The same factors that we’ve been building on will continue into 2025,” shares Waltz and Sons Propane in Buxton, Maine. “We feel that by investing in our employees, giving them the best equipment we can and being a part of the communities we serve have helped us become the company we are. The employee culture we’ve created among our young staff has helped us become an industry leader in our area.”
• “Our success in 2025 will hinge on our ability to maintain high levels of both customer and employee satisfaction – essential pillars of any thriving business,” writes McAdams Propane in Center, Texas. “Retaining dedicated employees ensures they treat the business as their own, fostering a partnership that prioritizes customer satisfaction. Happy customers drive growth and ensure business continuity, creating a cycle of success.”

About technology:

• “Specific to energy, continued adoption of technology in our cooperative, including the placement of tank monitors, allows us to be proactive and better service our customers,” writes ALCIVIA of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. “We also continue to invest in AI technology, which allows us to automate and create efficiencies in once-manual processes.”

About growth:

• “We believe that, at this stage in our trajectory, asking the binary question of ‘Are we growing or not?’ isn’t helpful, because growth itself is table stakes,” explains Lettermen’s Energy in Overland Park, Kansas. “The better question is this: ‘Are we positioned for sustainable growth?’”
• “We believe having a mindset to go after new builds and customers will continue our success for 2025, along with implementing tools and strategies to improve operating efficiencies,” shares Oklahoma Liquefied Gas in Seminole, Oklahoma.

Propane retailers also cited other factors that may contribute to their success in 2025. These include the state of acquisitions, adapting to regulatory changes, cost management and pricing strategies, supply chain management, environmental marketing solutions and website expansion.

• “Our success in 2025 will be defined by our ability to build enduring relationships, adapt to market changes and continue setting new standards in our industry,” adds Foster Fuels of Brookneal, Virginia.

Welcome, Sydney

You might have seen Sydney Fischer’s name appear more regularly alongside our website articles in recent months. That’s because Syd has become our new digital media specialist, overseeing our website, newsletters and social media platforms. We’re excited for her to join the LP Gas team and the propane industry.

Syd is from a small town west of Toledo, Ohio, and attended Kent State University. She’s been with North Coast Media, our parent company, for about three years now. I hope you get a chance to meet Syd, who will attend her first Propane Expo and LP Gas Hall of Fame event in April.

Featured homepage image: BrianAJackson/iStock/Getty Images Plus