It was announced Monday that Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) has entered into an agreement with Albertson's LLC to acquire 72 convenience stores and fueling kiosks. This will expand Valero's company-owned retail presence in Texas, Colorado, Arizona and Louisiana, where Valero already operates approximately 950 company-owned Corner Store locations.

Valero, one of my top picks of 2007, is my worst of 2008 -- Chasing Value: 8 stocks for 2008 -- April Bunge's back. It has been a turbulent couple of years in the oil industry and as my colleague Doug McIntyre reported earlier -- Goldman makes case of $200 oil -- it does not look to get much better.

In the mean time, while Valero's margins have been squeezed this year, it looks like it is intent on diversifying into more of a retail, convenience outlet and sell snacks and coffee in addition to its fuel products. "This transaction offers great synergies with our existing retail network and supply chain," said Gary Arthur, President of Valero's Retail Division. "All of these sites are relatively new and offer strong potential for merchandise growth." Should the 7-Eleven and Circle-K chains be worried? Not yet.

Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm. He writes the columns Chasing Value and Serious Money. DISCLOSURE: I currently own shares of VLO.

Valero shops at Albertson's and buys 72 retail sites originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 May 2008 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.