Following the acquisition of Tour Racing Ltd from Sky and 21st Century Fox, INEOS has committed to honouring all existing commitments to riders, staff and partners.

Earlier this month Crewe-based Radius Payment Solutions – the group behind the telematics and fuel card brands Kinesis and UK Fuels – acquired Plant-i, the Welsh-based provider of tracking and telemetry solutions to the plant and construction sectors.

Wincanton has renewed its contract to provide fuel distribution for Valero Energy. The new deal will run for five years, which will take the working relationship between the companies to beyond 25 years.

Craggs Environmental has purchased the Warrington-based fuel systems division of Clovemead.  The acquisition, which sees the transfer of key personal and equipment, further enhances the ability of Craggs Environmental to provide UK-wide fuel & tank services to businesses, residences and public sector organisations storing red/white diesel, kerosene and other fuels.

Next month Gulf Retail will be rolling-out out Oomph across its UK network. This brand-new forecourt loyalty platform utilises the latest technology to drive new revenues to its dealers and enable them to strengthen customer retention. Working in partnership with Azpiral, the market leader in customer engagement solutions for the forecourt and convenience sector, this major new initiative allows Gulf dealers to talk to their customers and tailor offers to specific groups via SMS, email and a dedicated phone app to boost in-store profits and strengthen community ties. A first for the forecourt sector, Oomph will roll-out in April to dealers across the country and will be deployed across the Gempay network. The Oomph loyalty platform is easy to use and can also be integrated with an existing EPOS, providing dealers with the tools to delve deep into the shopping basket of a customer and respond accordingly with dedicated offers and calls to action. Its versatility extends to the point of purchase where customers are rewarded with points utilising the app and smart card with accumulated points redeemable to support local charities and enter a ‘big ticket’ monthly draw. In addition, dealers can reward their customers with member-only offers such as in store-discounts, free coffees and car washes. “Oomph is being launched in response to requests from Gulf dealers and many of the larger dealer groups who see great merit in providing their customers with a nationwide loyalty platform with local marketing capabilities,” explained Gerry Welsh, retail marketing manager, Certas Energy. “Our immediate goal is to come to market with a fresh and exciting loyalty scheme that is embraced by our dealers and their customers. We are in discussions with several global brands to further develop the ‘Monthly Prize Haul’ and shall use our COCO estate as a test bed for new ideas. We plan to make Oomph the most engaging loyalty platform in the industry for consumers and the most cost effective for dealers and can see no bounds to its future potential.” Charged out to dealers at an affordable price with nationwide appeal, Oomph will be available to all UK Gulf forecourts and is compatible on both Apple and Android devices.

To ensure its British assets stay world class for a generation, INEOS is to invest £1 billion in multiple UK projects.  The biggest investment being announced is in the Forties Pipeline System (FPS).

Essar Oil (UK), which recently announced the appointment of Mark Amor as head of commercial, is the new principal sponsor for this year’s Forecourt Trader Awards.  Showcasing the petrol retailing industry, the event recognises and rewards those businesses at the leading edge of their profession.

BP’s Kingsbury terminal which has been acquired by Essar; the company has also acquired BP’s Northampton terminal Last week the Essar Oil UK Group of companies (Essar) unveiled the latest phase of its strategic business development, with the announcement of the acquisition of a number of assets from BP. Under the agreement, Essar will acquire an equity stake in the UKOP pipeline, a share of the contractual joint venture (with Shell) which runs the Kingsbury terminal and a 100% interest in the Northampton terminal.  The BP assets are being acquired by two wholly owned subsidiaries of EOUK, namely Essar Midlands Limited and InfraNorth Limited.

“Our Norwich team will play a core part in delivering a compelling experience for our customers, and in fuelling Watson Fuels’ continued success,” said Serena Scott, regional domestic manager who is heading up the centre On Wednesday 14th November, Watson Fuels will officially open its new Norwich Customer Contact Centre.  Joining the Watson Fuels UK management team for the ribbon cutting ceremony will be the global World Fuel Services leadership team.

The transaction provides an attractive entry into the Port of Amsterdam. Historically, the NuStar Europe business has experienced a high contract renewal rate with its customers with storage utilisation rates averaging approximately 90% in the first half of 2018 Inter Pipeline’s European storage subsidiary, Inter Terminals has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the issued share capital of NuStar Energy, L.P.’s European bulk liquid storage business, NuStar Europe for cash consideration of USD$270 million, or approximately CAD$354 million. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018 and is subject to customary closing conditions. “The addition of NuStar Europe is an exciting step forward for our European bulk liquid storage business,” commented Christian Bayle, Inter Pipeline’s president and chief executive officer. “The acquisition materially increases our overall storage capacity and establishes Inter Terminals as the UK’s largest independent storage operator. Furthermore, the transaction provides an attractive entry into the Port of Amsterdam. The Port is the world’s largest gasoline blending hub and has experienced significant storage growth over the years.” NuStar Europe consists of seven coastal terminals totaling 9.1 million barrels of storage. One terminal is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands with the remaining facilities located in the United Kingdom (UK) near London, Runcorn, Eastham, Grangemouth, Clydebank and Belfast.  The acquisition will increase Inter Terminal’s storage capacity by approximately 33% to 37 million barrels. In the UK, the 1.9 million barrel Grays terminal is strategically located on the river Thames and serves the greater London area. Grays is responsible for handling approximately 17 million barrels of refined products per year, and provides cost effective access to London’s fuel distribution network. The 49-tank terminal has averaged approximately 100 percent utilisation over the past three years. The smaller terminals at Belfast, Eastham, Grangemouth, Runcorn and Clydebank in the UK primarily support the distribution of petrochemicals, gasoline, diesel and sulphur to regional demand centres. The 3.8 million barrel state-of-the-art terminal in Amsterdam plays a key role in the Port of Amsterdam with approximately 10% of the independent storage capacity. The terminal provides gasoline, gas oil and fuel oil storage, and blending services, including those required to produce IMO 2020 compliant marine fuels. The 44-tank facility has averaged approximately 100% utilisation over the past three years. Cash flow in the business is supported by cost-of-service and fixed-fee contracts with major integrated oil companies, petrochemical companies and petroleum traders with terms typically ranging from one to five years. Additional revenue is generated through ancillary services such as product blending and throughput fees.www.interterminals.com

Commercial director Jonathan Davies beside the new vehicles which have been named Glyndwr and Dai after former members of staff Joining a fleet of 15 trucks, Ammanford-based DJ Davies Fuels has acquired its first Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor unit and a 3.5-tonne FUSO Canter from Euro Commercials. Operating from a strategically located network of depots throughout South Wales, DJ Davies not only supplies domestic heating oil, industrial, commercial and agricultural fuel oils, but also premium solid fuels, including smokeless coal, multi-fuel briquettes and firewood logs. The Canter is now undertaking local deliveries from Lampeter – and offers a nationwide solid fuel delivery service to retail customers via fuels4u.com. The tractor unit is busy undertaking work for the Fuel Express consortium which specialises in the distribution of a pre-packed domestic fuel, barbecue charcoal, gas and ancillary products to national and independent forecourts and convenience stores. Recent expansion has seen DJ Davies not only covering Wales for Fuel Express, but also now having additional responsibility for south west England. Commercial director Jonathan Davies whose grandfather Denzil founded the business in 1971, said: “Both new trucks are named after former employees. The Actros is ‘Glyndwr’, in honour of Glyndwr Williams, a lorry enthusiast who worked for the company as a driver’s helper for more than 30 years, before retiring due to ill health in 2017. The Canter is named after Dai Collins, who passed away in 2014 after losing his battle with cancer – Mr Collins had spent his working life at the Swansea branch which DJ Davies acquired 10 years ago. “Glyndwr and Dai were both very popular with colleagues and these expressions of recognition for former members of staff have been very well received by those with whom they worked.  Glyndwr is delighted to see his name on the Actros, and Dai’s family have thanked us for the gesture.”www.djdaviesfuels.co.uk

Having recently acquired Birlem Oil, the Crown Oil Group’s Speedy Fuels brand is looking forward to expanding its presence in the south east This month has seen Crown Oil acquire two fuel distributors – Oldbury-based Beesley Fuels and London-based Birlem Oil. Run by the Beesley family for more than 50 years, Beesley Fuels which turns over £8.5m, was sold for an undisclosed sum.  Having worked together for the past 20 years, when Andrew Beesley decided to retire, Crown made the decision to purchase. “I’m delighted to see Beesley Fuels become part of another strong family business and looking forward to watching it flourish,” said Andrew. Expanding its presence in the south east, the Crown Group’s Speedy Oil brand has also acquired Birlem Oil which has three depots east, west and north of London. “We’re delighted with the acquisition of Birlem,” said Matthew Greensmith, managing director of the Crown Oil Group. “We’ve worked with the Buckley family for a number of years and they share the same values as us, the business is a natural fit for the group.” “Speedy has been a valued partner of Birlem for a number of years so it seemed only right that the business should continue its journey under its care,” added Kirk Buckley. “We’re pleased to have been able to reach a deal with Crown and the Greensmith family and look forward to watching Birlem go from strength to strength under their ownership.”crownoil.co.uk

Greenergy has acquired 100% of the shares of Rexon Energy, a used cooking oil exporter based in Singapore. This is an upstream investment for Greenergy to provide raw materials for its biodiesel manufacturing operations including those at Immingham and Teesside. “We have increased our purchasing of used cooking oils from around the world over a number of years and Rexon has become a significant supplier,” said Andrew Owens, Greenergy chief executive. “Our acquisition of Rexon provides greater integration in this part of our supply chain.” Greenergy continues to expand its manufacturing operations through incremental investment at its facilities on Teesside and at Immingham in the UK.  The company has also recently acquired a biodiesel manufacturing facility in Amsterdam which is due to commence production in 2019. www.greenergy.com

With almost 500 tractor units across the UK, HOYER is the market leader in fuel distribution HOYER is expanding its Petrolog fleet in the UK with the arrival of 89 new MAN vehicles. The deliveries, set to complete this October, comprise 75 replacement vehicles plus 14 additional vehicles for the company’s recently attained business across the UK. The new fleet additions are all Euro 6 TGS 24.420’s with a total of 85 day cabs and four sleeper cabs. The MAN deal offers Petrolog a comprehensive fixed price repair and maintenance package across a mixture of three and five-year lease agreements. “We are delighted to be bringing in new vehicles to replace our older tractor units and additional vehicles to support our growing aviation and ground fuels business and, in doing so, continuing our longstanding relationship with MAN,” said operations director Allan Davison. The new TGS 24.420’s join an existing UK fleet of 500 HOYER vehicles. Operating nationally across the UK HOYER sites the new vehicles will be serviced and maintained by the strategically located nationwide MAN dealer network. “With almost 500 tractor units across the UK, HOYER is the market leader in fuel distribution,” added Ian Mclean, head of international key accounts and special products. “It is fantastic to see MAN vehicles and service underpinning this growth and delivering on the company’s requirements. As a manufacturer, MAN offer a robust and trusted ADR and pet-reg approved vehicle solution, which in turn has the support from a focused dealer network who provide the highest levels of after sales support to hazardous goods vehicles and operators.”www.hoyer.uk.com

Rory Clarke, managing director of J.R. Rix & Sons, overlooking the company’s Hull fuel depot Hull-based J.R. Rix & Sons grew turnover by 17% in 2017 with all companies in the Group reporting an improved performance on the previous year. Group revenue increased by £60m to £407m in the 12 months to December 31st, 2017, with profit remaining stable at just under £5m. Holiday home and lodge manufacturer Victory Leisure Homes continued to make inroads into the industry, growing market share significantly and increasing sales from £19.5m in 2016 to £26.5m last year. The company was bolstered by the strength of the UK holiday market and the weak pound. The weak pound also combined with an increase in the price of oil prompting growth at the Group’s inland and marine fuels businesses. Rix Petroleum – the largest company in the Group – increased sales from £272m to £304m and maritime bunkering’s revenue increased from £25.4m in 2016 to £38m in 2017. Rix Shipping, which manages the company’s shipping fleet and stevedoring operations in Hull and Montrose, saw turnover nearly double across the year from £7.2m in 2016 to £13.6m last year, and the Group’s car and commercial vehicle retailer, Jordans Cars, reported a slight growth in sales from £23.6m to £25.4m. Managing director Rory Clarke described the performances as solid, adding that much of the growth had come from an increase in the price of oil. “Overall Group turnover leapt by £60m with all divisions performing well. Although a number of external factors affect the performance of our businesses – the relative strength of the pound, the weather and the price of oil – good governance, keeping a close eye on costs and having a thorough understanding of the environment in which we operate are still key to driving growth. ‘’It is particularly pleasing that once again all the operating businesses within the group made a positive contribution to what was a good year for J.R. Rix & Sons.”www.rix.co.uk

Greenergy has reached an agreement with Oiltanking, a subsidiary of Marquard & Bahls, to purchase an idle biodiesel manufacturing facility located at Oiltanking’s site in Amsterdam.  The acquisition of a third biodiesel plant will allow Greenergy to meet growing demand for waste-based biofuel in the UK and Europe. The Amsterdam biodiesel manufacturing facility was built in 2010 to process vegetable oils but was never commissioned. Greenergy plans to carry out works over the next year to convert the facility to process waste oils rather than vegetable oils and then to add further production capacity. “Demand for waste-based biodiesel is rising rapidly in the UK and Europe as a result of higher obligated biofuel inclusion rates,” explained Andrew Owens, Greenergy chief executive. “Over the last few years we have scaled up our raw material supply chains and invested in our UK manufacturing facilities, increasing output through a variety of incremental investments. We are now leveraging these skills and capabilities to develop a third plant.”

Heat Heroes and FPS members look on as Heart of England Foundation’s Jen Tullet (l), holds the cheque for £11,594 alongside Dawn Shakespeare of the FPS The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) – together with Midlands-based heating oil distributors, AID Fuels, Nolan Oils and Midland Fuel Oil – have been fundraising to help those in fuel poverty and have awarded £11,594 to four National Energy Action (NEA) Heat Heroes Award winners. Organised by NEA, which works to end fuel poverty in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Heat Heroes Awards aim to recognise individuals who have gone ‘above and beyond’ to help people living in fuel poverty in their local community. Having raised £11,594 from two years of fundraising events, the FPS and its members asked The Heart of England Community Foundation to administer the funds with the following chosen to receive £2898.50 each. “We heartily congratulate all the winners of the NEA Heat Heroes Awards 2018,” said Guy Pulham, FPS chief executive. “We’re pleased that with the help of our Midlands-based members, we’ve been able to raise a significant sum of money. We’re also impressed by the extraordinary efforts made by these four winners and have no doubt they’ll put the money to incredibly good use.”Coventry Citizens Advice Bureau – Natalie French, fuel poverty advisor intends to use the donation to continue to support people through the bureau’s telephone assessment and advice service; helping more people save money on their heating bills and become more energy efficient.Citizens Advice Derbyshire Districts – Russell Bosanko, financial capability officer helps people save energy; the money will be put towards staging a number of events and attending community events to provide energy advice and support to those most in need of assistance with fuel bills. Wolverhampton Homes – Alvina Ali, energy and climate change officer will address fuel poverty with a series of initiatives, products and services to help tenants and residents to budget and control energy consumption. Home energy visits are an essential part of delivering a customer friendly solution as they give us the tools we need to help support and protect vulnerable residents living in fuel poverty whilst helping them to sustain their tenancies.Marches Energy Agency – Davina Allen, project manager supports vulnerable clients by finding ways to cut energy bills, looking for good deals and reducing fuel debt – the money will provide additional resources for their independent phoneline service across Shropshire, Herefordshire and southern Staffordshire. “We were delighted that FPS chose our Foundation to administer these funds,” said Tina Costello CEO of Heart of England Community Foundation. “The Heat Heroes Award winners have done brilliantly to support those struggling in their communities and we are sure their fine work will continue!”www.fpsonline.co.ukwww.nea.org.uk/award-schemes