Blue Rhino Corporation - RINO- Profile

Blue Rhino Corporation. The Group's principal activity is the provision for the exchange of propane grill cylinders and the sale of non-propane appliances through retailers. The Group offers the exchange through more than 28,000 retail locations in 48 states of United States and Puerto Rico. It also sells barbecue grills, patio heaters, fireplace accessories and garden products through home centers, mass merchants and hearth stores. In addition it provides in-store retail shipping services at major grocery stores. The brands offered include RhinoTUFF(R), Tri-Safe(R), Bison(R), Uniflame(R), UniGrill(R), DuraClay(R) etc. The Group's retail partners include Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Sears, Kmart, Kroger, Food Lion, Winn-Dixie, SuperAmerica, Circle K and ExxonMobil. The Group sources a major percentage of the products from suppliers in China. Cylinder exchange acctd for 66% of fis 2003 revenues and Patio heaters, grills, fireplace accessories and garden products, 34%