NATCHEZ — After 53 years in the business, local oil distribution company Cloutier Oil has been bought out.

Lawrie Cloutier, owner of Cloutier Oil, said the sale of the company was completed March 19, and most of the week that followed was spent auditing out the company’s 11 convenience stores. The company is currently in the process of closing out its books.

Cloutier Oil was started Oct. 1, 1958, and originally served commercial consumer accounts, businesses that had fuel tanks that needed refilling.

Starting in 1984, the company expanded into the convenience store business, and Cloutier said it was involved in the development of 17 convenience stores with more than 100 employees. Most of the stores sold petroleum products produced by Shell Oil.

Cloutier Oil weathered the oil allocations of the 1970s, saw the business transition from mechanical and manual to digital distribution and joined in the convenience store change from full-service to self-service.

“What we found is that we were much better at the convenience business than the consumer business,” Cloutier said. “We wouldn’t have made it this long if we hadn’t changed with the times.”

The company that bought Cloutier Oil, Victory Properties, is a partnership formed by Rex Gillis of Columbus and Joe Morris of Ridgeland, two businessmen who also do business with Shell Oil. Victory properties bought 11 salaried convenience stores and nine dealer accounts from Cloutier.

“I am thankful I was able to sell to fellow Shell Oil Company distributors to be able to keep the Shell brand in Southwest Mississippi,” Cloutier said.

Victory Properties approached him about buying the business, Cloutier said, and though he said he considered selling the business in the past, these were the first buyers who were able to complete the deal.

Cloutier stores are located in Natchez, Vidalia, Ferriday, Jonesville, Woodville, Meridian, Forrest, Port Gibson, Fayette and Bude.