Companies 15
Derbyshire–based Aztec Oils recently completed the acquisition of the lubricant, pre-packaged fuel and contract packing business of Multispec Limited – formally Caldo Oils – for an undisclosed sum.
With the support of customers from numerous forecourts within Certas Energy’s Scottish company–owned network, the company has raised over £3,000 for Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children.
The Scottish Oil Club has announced a relaunch, with a new name and refreshed branding that better reflects its role as a discussion forum for professionals from across the energy sector.
On Tuesday 5th November, Adler and Allan announced the acquisition of the Fuel Facility Management (FM) division of LCM Environmental Ltd (LCM).
Top 50 Indies forecourt operator, Motor Fuel Group (MFG) has announced that it has signed an agreement to purchase the south-west of England forecourt operator, Symonds Retail Limited.
The transaction is scheduled to close early November 2019.
“We are particularly delighted with this transaction because in addition to their existing 10 operating stations we also have three ‘new to industry sites’ in the acquisition package,” commented Jeremy Clarke, chief operating officer at MFG.
“Within the existing 10 stations, there are six BP branded, three Shell and one Texaco. The retail offer is split between Londis and Budgens with one station offering Subway and another one offering Greggs.
“We intend to open the three ‘new to industry’ stations in 2020, all with an excellent retail and ‘food to go’ offer and with the important addition of a dedicated high power EV charging hub.”
This acquisition will bring the total number of stations operated by MFG to 904, maintaining their position as the UK’s largest independent forecourt operator.
UK Fuels and the Co-op have signed an agreement that will see the Co-op filling stations added to the UK Fuels network. This will allow UK Fuels card holders to use their cards to purchase fuel at 133 Co-op sites nationwide.
Myra McPartlin, who joined Certas Energy from DCC in 2016, has been appointed to the role of regional manager in the south east of England
Gulf Retail has appointed Myra McPartlin as regional manager, south East, replacing the long-serving Steve White who has retired. Myra, who was previously area business manager in Scotland, has worked more recently in the north West.
Myra joined Certas Energy in 2016 from parent company DCC where, as part of the company’s graduate programme, she undertook a variety of roles. She is a graduate of University College, Dublin and then went on to successfully complete a Masters’ degree in business and management at Trinity College in 2014.
“In a relatively short period of time Myra has proven her retail and managerial credentials and we are delighted to promote her,” explains Craig Nugent, head of dealer sales.
“She will add further drive and enthusiasm to a highly experienced team, all committed to support our dealers and grow the Gulf network.”
“It’s a fantastic challenge and I know I have a huge responsibility at this exciting time in the development of the Gulf brand,” enthuses Myra.
“There is a great camaraderie in Certas Energy, and I shall continue to play my part as we drive the brand forward. Since joining Gulf Retail, I’ve really enjoyed my life on the road, meeting dealers and building long term and mutually beneficial partnerships and I look forward to replicating this within the south East.”
At a recently held event, Suttons customers were able to participate in a variety of workshops led by the company’s senior managers. The focus was on the organisation’s safety culture, compliance excellence and an innovative technology project with fleet telematics provider Microlise.
Inter Pipeline is exploring the potential sale of its European bulk liquid storage business, saying it is consistent with the company’s practice of making prudent, long-term portfolio management decisions.
The company says that should a sale be completed, proceeds could be used to reduce outstanding debt and finance Inter Pipeline’s capital expenditure programme, including the Heartland Petrochemical Complex.
Christian Bayle, president and CEO of Inter Pipeline, said:
“Inter Terminals is a high-quality business with outstanding management and staff. It has made an important contribution to the success and growth of Inter Pipeline over the past 14 years.
“Our decision to explore alternatives is consistent with Inter Pipeline’s practice of making prudent, long-term portfolio management decisions particularly in light of our organic growth initiatives.”
As part of a strategy to bring its group of companies together, Adler and Allan launched a new brand and logo earlier this month, with the new brand reflecting the company’s enhanced range of services and solutions.
Mabanaft has acquired Junction 29, one of the UK’s top-tier independent truckstops. Completed on 5th August, the deal marks Mabanaft’s strategic commitment to developing a network of truckstops across the country, offering drivers and companies good-value, high-quality truckstops outside of those owned by the oil companies and large group networks.
New Era is set to generate a turnover of £100 million in the next three years and expand its international footprint, after securing a £2m funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking to purchase a new depot.
Pembrokeshire-based technical consultancy InSite Technical Services has officially opened its new premises at 1 Cleddau Bridge, Pembroke Dock.
The Scully Signal Company has appointed Katrina Scully Ohl as president and CEO. The granddaughter of the founder, Francis P. Scully, and daughter of Robert Scully, Katrina has a wealth of experience in the industry, having held numerous positions within the company, most recently interim president and executive vice president.
Standard Fuel Oils – an independent Merseyside-based fuel oil distributor – has been identified as one of London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2019.
Rix Petroleum has engaged Zelst, a Harrogate-based digital marketing company specialising in search engine optimisation, to help grow its Fuelmate subsidiary by increasing search visibility, rankings, traffic and lead generation.
RSK, the integrated environmental, engineering and technical services consultancy, has formally acquired the business, operating assets and employees engaged in the business of RAW Technology Ltd. The acquisition is RSK’s fourth of this financial year.
RAW, which specialises in inland oil spill response and remediation, operates worldwide from 16 offices in the UK and Ireland. Its clients include insurance companies NFU Mutual, Legal & General, RSA, Aviva, AXA, Direct Line and LV=, Speedy Hire and National Trust.
In 2016, RAW won a RoSPA Gold Award. In addition, UKSpill named RAW its domestic responder of the year in 2016 and 2017.
The business will operate as RSK Raw Ltd and trade as RSK Raw. Neil Stothert, who has been RAW’s managing director for six years and has 25 years’ experience in the industry, will continue to manage the company. The business and its 85 employees will become part of RSK’s contracting division under the direction of RSK divisional director Claire Knighton.
“RSK Raw shares many of RSK’s core values, and its service provision complements ours,” said RSK’s founder and chief executive officer Alan Ryder.
“Like RSK, it is a people-orientated business that focuses on building strong client relationships. Our shared ethos will stand us in good stead. I am looking forward to working with our new colleagues.”
“I am delighted that we have joined the RSK group and have the support of extensive environmental services that will enable RSK Raw to thrive,” added Neil Stothert.
“Our services are closely aligned with existing RSK services, so we will see numerous synergies as we begin collaborating.”
An aerial view of Braefoot Bay Marine Terminal in Fife where ExxonMobil is investing in its life extension
Linlithgow-based Asset Integrity Maintenance (AIM) has been awarded a major contract to help extend the life of the ExxonMobil jetty facility at Braefoot Bay Marine Terminal in Fife. The tanker terminal exports liquefied petroleum gas to Europe and the USA after being produced at Fife Ethylene Plant, using feedstock from the North Sea.
Taking responsibility to minimise the company’s impact on the environment has led to Watson Fuels being presented with the inaugural FPS Green Award at this year’s FPS EXPO
Watson Fuels has won the inaugural FPS Green Award for its flagship Ledbury depot. Hosted at FPS Expo in Liverpool, the FPS Green Award recognised Watson Fuels’ Ledbury depot as the best green initiative in the industry.
Watson Fuels, which designed its Ledbury depot to be the most advanced fuel distribution depot in its network, used an innovative approach that utilises both natural and advanced solutions. The site mitigates environmental risk, reduces fuel usage and pollution, all while fitting in with its natural surroundings.
Pioneering this holistic approach, the site features an innovative reed bed, an attenuation pond to ensure water purity and help wildlife flourish, while adopting more traditional, advanced techniques.
Building a robust drainage process, and safeguarding against contamination, Ledbury also uses deep drainage gullies with interceptors, block paving with underground membrane and electric stripper pumps.
To best blend in with its surroundings, Watson Fuels also adopted an eco-friendly tree-planting initiative at the site.
“We take our responsibility to minimise our impact on the environment very seriously,” said Bob Taylor, managing director of Watson Fuels.
“Whilst this attitude is reflected at our various sites across the country, our Ledbury depot is a site of which we are particularly proud.
“Watson Fuels is always looking to implement new approaches to the challenge, and it is wonderful to be recognised by the industry in this way. As a sector we can always do more, but we are taking steps to evolve our business to the benefit of our customers and the environment.”
Accompanied by his sons Sam and Will, Ben Kaye receive barrels of oil from Andrew Goddard with the Scammell Pioneer R100 and AEC Matador in the background
Shrewsbury-based Morris Lubricants has donated heavy duty engine and gear oils to one of its loyal customers with a passion for restoring vintage military vehicles.
With the help of family and friends, customer Ben Kaye restored a 1940 AEC Matador medium artillery tractor and a 1940 Scammell Pioneer R100 heavy artillery tractor in time for the 75th anniversary of the D Day landings on 6th June.
Making the 300-mile journey to the Normandy beaches at Arromanches for this historic anniversary, the Scammell Pioneer R100 was transported on a low loader. Having arrived in France, the Kaye family took part in a series of parades and events and also laid a wreath at sea on behalf of Ben’s wife Emma’s grandfather, Charles Owen, a former Royal British Legion parade marshal. A rare and valuable white ensign, which was displayed on a gunboat captained by the father of Ben’s former primary school teacher on D Day 1944, also made the trip.
Ben, who runs a Range Rover and Land Rover repair and diagnostics business, was just 19 when he began collecting military vehicles to restore. Using a student loan, he bought his first Scammell Pioneer SV25 recovery vehicle for £2,000. Ben and his father, who shares his passion, now have 15 vehicles, including two tanks and five Scammells. His latest restoration project – a Scorpion tank – is nearing completion after 14 years.
Thanking Morris Lubricants for donating the oils, Ben said:
“I buy all the oil for my hobby and business from Morris Lubricants because it’s good quality and the back-up service is excellent. You can ring their technical department with a query and speak to a human being which means a lot when you are working on cars that can be worth up to £100,000.”
“Recommended for use in veteran, classic and vintage vehicles, where engine design and tolerances prohibit the use of modern multigrade, high additive level oils, these engine and gear oils are perfect for Ben’s vehicles,” added Andrew Goddard, Morris Lubricants’ chairman.
Award success for OnlineFuels – for more details of recent developments to the OnlineFuels platform, see the June 2019 issue of Fuel Oil News
Having been nominated for Tech Company of the Year and Reseller of the Year, OnlineFuels recently attended the National Technology Awards in London. The company, which faced stiff competition from big names such as Xero and DataRails, was delighted to take home the trophy for Tech Company of the Year.
“We are all still in shock at our first award especially being up there with other winners including Sky, BY, and V by Vodafone,” ‘said James Stairmand, founder and CEO of OnlineFuels.
“We’re still a relatively small team so to achieve an award such as this is an unbeatable feeling. It’s been a stressful few months as we prepared for everything which seemed to have the same deadline – this award is not only testament to the team’s efforts but also to our clients who have supported us.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who has used the OnlineFuels platform. Your feedback as to how the platform looks and works, and of course where it didn’t work, has enabled us to create a product that has been acknowledged for its uniqueness and problem-solving capabilities.
“The vision has always been to build a product that encaptures the time-consuming tasks of buying and selling refined fuels, and to create a digital solution that dramatically streamlines the experience.”
After 30 years in business, UK RTI is proud to still offer the first-class service for which it is well-recognised. Still family-run the business, which started life as Williams Tankers, was founded in 1989 by Bruce Williams.
Gleaner, which recently changed its name from Gleaner Oils, to represent the company’s ongoing development and diversification, supplies fuels to some of the most scenic locations in the UK – pictured here at Loch Tuath
Founded by Robin Young on 24th April 1954, Gleaner recently celebrated its 65th anniversary.
Robin’s granddaughter Jane Scott and her husband Stephen now own this family business which has seen considerable expansion over the years.
Now the owner of 13 service stations and 11 depots, the company also supplies many filling stations under contract.
Headquarter in Elgin, Gleaner’s supply offering includes lubricants, bulk fuel products for agriculture, domestic, industrial and marine oil, petrol, diesel and LPG, AdBlue and boiler maintenance services.
Fuel Oil News sends congratulations to the company and its 200 employees.
As part of a wider corporate rebranding and repositioning strategy, Oil Tank Supplies Ltd announced its name change to OTS Group Ltd in late April.