fbpx
  • 1908

    During the early 1900s, A.P. Breaux operated a grocery store in Lockport, Louisiana. At this same time, farmers began to look for ways to get their produce to market. Decent roads did not exist in Louisiana – not to mention, delivery trucks weren’t around. The bayou was the highway. A.P. began to pick up field runs of produce from farmers and gardeners via barge – often 40 miles a day – and brought them to the wharf in Lockport where they were delivered via the Lockport Product Exchange in connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad.

  • 1912

    During the early 1910s, sugarcane farmers were also struggling to get their cane to the mill. Executives of the Godchaux Sugar Mill watched A.P. Breaux serve as an efficient and aggressive bayou middleman, and soon reached out to offer him a contract to haul sugarcane to Raceland from the Bayou Lafourche planters. With this contract came expansion. A.P.’s now thriving business expanded to include several barges and stern-wheel steamboats.

  • 1922

    A.P.’s produce delivery business continued to grow and prosper until good roads started to take shape in Louisiana. With the roads came trucks that brought the benefit of speedy delivery. Around this same time, the first oil well was drilled in Leeville, just about 40 miles down the road from Lockport. A.P. took the state’s new and booming industry as an opportunity to further diversify his business. In 1922, he established A.P. Breaux & Sons and began hauling crude oil from the Leeville field and transporting fuel from the New Orleans Refining Company (NORCO).

  • 1927

    A.P. secured the state’s first-ever distributor contract with Shell Oil Company and began distributing petroleum products throughout the entire Bayou Region.

  • 1935

    In the 1930s, A.P. Breaux & Sons entered the retail fuel sector with a full-service gas station in Lockport, known as Leon’s Service Station. Branded as a Shell station, the store quickly became a go-to for fuel and necessities for local residents in the community. Decades later in the 1960s, the company opened another full-service gas station. Breaux continued to expand its operations in the retail sector and would eventually come to own and operate five convenience stores throughout the Bayou Region.

  • 1941

    A.P. Breaux, a true entrepreneur and pioneer of his industry, died in 1941. Following his death, his eldest son, A.P. Breaux, Jr. (pictured), took the reins of the business with his two brothers, Leon Breaux and G.A. Breaux. A.P. Jr. would also be elected as mayor of Lockport twice serving terms from 1940-1941 and 1948-1952.

  • 1955

    Now under leadership of the second generation of Breauxs, A.P. Breaux & Sons split in to two oil distributors serving South Louisiana. G.A. founded Lockport Oil and Tire Company as an Amoco distributor. G.A.’s brother, Leon, continued to direct A.P. Breaux and Sons, which would later become known as Breaux Oil Company. Both companies prospered and established a well-revered reputation for providing high quality products and reliable services to the state’s most vital industries.

  • 1960

    In the early 60s, Leon Breaux, Sr. (far left) was at the helm of the company as it expanded its product and service offerings throughout the Bayou Region by servicing businesses across a multitude of industries. Pictured here, Leon meets with the company’s Shell representative at the Valentine Paper Company, a longtime customer of A.P. Breaux & Sons and fellow Lafourche Parish business.

  • 1978

    In 1978, Lockport Oil & Tire Company opened a brand-new facility in Lockport at 237 N. Barrios Street. The new facility was home to a bulk tank farm, warehouse and office space that met the needs of the rapidly growing business. The facility would come to serve as the corporate headquarters for what is now the modern-day Breaux Petroleum Products. Since its 1978 opening, the facility has expanded its warehouse, office and tank farm space to keep up with the increasing business demand.

  • 1979

    In 1979, Breaux Oil expanded operations and re-entered the retail fuel sector with its first modern-day convenience store in Boutte, Louisiana. Over the next 30 years, the company would come to own and operate four other convenience stores throughout South Louisiana, known today as Jester’s Court stores, as well as deliver to and service more than 20 additional convenience stores in the region.

  • 1986

    By the mid-1980s, the third generation of Breauxs – G.A. Breaux, Jr. and Leon “Buddy” Breaux, Jr. (pictured) – were at the helm of Lockport Oil and Tire Company and Breaux Oil Company, respectively. With each company’s established reputation in the lubricants industry, they decided to merge to form what is now the present-day Breaux Petroleum Products. During this time, the fourth generation, Leon “Bud” Breaux, III (son of Buddy), joined the company as its comptroller.

  • 1995

    Breaux Petroleum Products continued on an unprecedented path of growth during the 90s. The company expanded its workforce, fleet, service and product offerings, and expanded the N. Barrios St. facility, to maintain its position as one of the most trusted providers of fuel and lubricants in the Bayou Region.

  • 2008

    In 2008, Leon “Buddy” Breaux, Jr., moved into an advisory role with Breaux Petroleum Products after leading the company for more than 30 years in several roles of leadership including manager, secretary-treasurer and president. Buddy’s son and the fourth generation, Bud (pictured), was named president of the company.

  • 2017

    In January 2017, Breaux Petroleum Products expanded its operations with a second facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The new facility gave the company the opportunity to expand its services beyond South Louisiana and into the western and northern areas of the state as well as East Texas. With the expansion, the company grew its efforts in the marine and offshore business serving drillers and production companies throughout the Gulf of Mexico. At this point, the fifth generation, Blake and Derek Breaux (sons of Bud Breaux), had entered the business and rose to leadership after serving in various sales and operational roles for the company.

  • 2019

    In the summer of 2019, Breaux Petroleum Products broke ground on a new Marine Distribution Facility in Lockport. The new facility marks the company’s third location in Louisiana and is designed to serve as a dedicated warehouse and bulk plant focused on products specific to the marine and offshore industry. The facility is home to 25 bulk tanks with up to half a million gallons of storage space and a 12,000-square-foot warehouse holding a range of marine lubricants, soaps, chemicals and more.

    Pictured L-R: Blake Breaux (5th generation), Bud Breaux (4th generation), Buddy Breaux (3rd generation) and Derek Breaux (5th generation).

  • 2022

    In 2022, Breaux Petroleum Products celebrated its centennial anniversary. The company was recognized at the Louisiana State Capitol for its achievement of 100 years in business and was commended for its achievements in serving the vital industries and communities of Louisiana throughout the last century.

  • Today

    Breaux Petroleum Products now boasts a team of more than 60 employees at its three facilities across South Louisiana. The company continues to grow and diversify its portfolio of services while still maintaining a focus on the same core values it was founded on 100 years ago. Stay tuned for the next chapter of the Breaux story as we look ahead to the next 100 years.