• History
  • Testimonials

History

History

CN Brown Company is a family owned business that started in 1948 as a retail and wholesale lumber company in Lovell, ME.  The company expanded its business and territory to include petroleum products in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

In the early 70’s, management recognized the changing lumber industry and began concentrating its efforts in the convenience store, gasoline, and heating oil business.  At about this time, Carlton N. Brown hired Harold D. Jones, a district representative from Phillips Petroleum, to be CN Brown Company’s General Manager/CFO; to lead the company into these new markets.

This marked the beginning of a new era for CN Brown Company.  The company began a program of purchasing and building new convenience stores, along with its steady expansion of its heating oil business.

The company, now owned and operated by the Jones family, has provided communities with steady employment for over 75 years.  CN Brown Company currently owns and operates 73 Big Apple Convenience Stores, 25 Heating Oil Offices, 11 Service Stations, plus service over 100 gasoline dealers.  CN Brown Company has positioned itself to be a major contender in the competitive petroleum market throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

In 2012, CN Brown Company began supplying Electricity and Natural Gas to customers in Maine to further diversify energy offerings. https://cnbrownenergy.com/residential-electricity/

In 2012, CN Brown Company launched its Big Apple Rewards program, leading the way for loyalty programs in the Northeast.  https://cnbrownrewards.net/

In 2018, CN Brown Company’s electricity division and heating oil division were rebranded to CN Brown Energy.  A new energy website was launched in January of 2018.  Check it out here:  cnbrownenergy.com.

In 2019, the offer of electricity moved into New Hampshire.  This enabled CN Brown Company to bundle product offerings for added savings to our valued customers.  https://cnbrownenergy.com/bundle-save-landing-page-new-hampshire/

In 2022, the company launched a NEW Rewards program where points can be spent like cash!  Easy to get and spend, to include fuel purchases at the Big Apple Stores.  Each point = .01!  The focus = You Deserve Some Rewards!  To learn more visit https://cnbrownrewards.net/how-it-works/.

CN Brown Company is a financially strong company that will continue to evolve in the energy field and the convenience store industry. 

The future looks bright and we look forward to serving you.

The Jones Family

Back row: Jamie Jones Cormier –  Vice President, Jeff Jones – President, Kurt Jones – Former President, Jinger Duryea- Chairperson of Board of Directors.  Front Row, seated:  The late Harold Jones, and wife Joyce Jones.  CN Brown Company is family owned and operated since 1948.

The Executive Team

Jeff Jones, President
Jamie Cormier, Vice President
Ken Cannell, Vice President, GM
Sonia Smith, Corporate Office Manager
Kevin Knightly, Director of Maintenance
Brandi Cushman, Director of Retail Purchasing
Wendi Marshall, Retail Sales Manager, Big Apple Division
Tina Chasse, Retail Sales Manager, Big Apple Division
Brandy Clukey, Retail Sales Manager Energy Division
Sue Goulet, Loyalty Coordinator

Testimonials

Testimonials

  • Well Done, South Paris Energy Team!

    "Professionalism, Communication, and Coordination of the installation surpassed my expectation and is a reflection of the outstanding company you are" - Lorraine B., Harrison, Maine.

  • Well Done, Lancaster Energy Team!

  • Well Done, South Paris Big Apple Service Station!

    Thank you for your service, Scott Morrissette! We appreciate you at the corporate office and at the Service Station.

  • Well Done, Farmington Energy Office!

    We appreciate our loyal customers!

  • Well Done, Lancaster Energy Office!

    September 8, 2022 - Lancaster, NH customer:

    Well Done, Georgia Greenwood, and the team at Lancaster Energy Office! Customer SHOUT OUTS that lead to a referral are a win-win! Nice job!

  • Thank you Farmington Energy Office for delivering excellent customer experiences!

  • Colebrook, NH Energy Office

    Well Done Colebrook Energy Office Team!

  • South Paris, ME Energy Office

  • Portsmouth, NH Big Apple Store

    Hello, On July 3rd my 17 yr old son Adam took my car to go on a night out with his cousin to see the fireworks which translated to driving two girls from Winthrop Ma. to their home in Hampton, NH. In the early hrs of the 4th (around 6 am), they found themselves completely out of bounds, out of gas and out of money in the parking lot of your Big Apple store in Portsmouth. The two boys were standing outside the store with a cup asking for a change to buy enough gas to get home when they were approached by the store manager. When they explained the situation your manager informed them that he could not let them solicit money but he would help them. He then gave them 15 dollars worth of gas and 5 dollars for tolls, money out of his own pocket, on the conditions that my son call home immediately and tell me where he was and that someday he pay it forward and help someone else that needed it. where how and when was to be his decision. On Thursday I stopped into the store with my son to pay back the money and I met Ken. He respectfully refused to take my money and said his deal was with my son. His explanation was it was a two-part deal. Part one was to call me immediately to both put me at ease and to ensure he, at some point, would have to face the music and part two was he help someone else in need. Stepping up to help someone else whether it was time or money would help teach him that sometimes the smallest kindness reaped the greatest rewards. Getting his money back was never part of the deal. He was holding Adam to the agreement they made and was just glad he got home safe. Ken is a class act and I\'m so glad my son found himself in the parking lot of his store. And it was not lost on me that he insisted my son called home first. Just thought you should know. Thank You.


    ~Anonymous Parent

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