Spotlight 30
Paul Brown will help RE:Group to grow its fuel oils business with a particular focus on heavy users of heating oil
A specialist with 30 years’ chemicals and fuel industry experience has joined RE:Group (UK) as it continues to develop its industrial fuel oils division.
Paul Brown is the Hull-based company’s new industrial fuel sales manager and joins after 10 years as a waste management broker and solvent sales representative.
RE:Group, which has extensive experience in waste oil management and hydrocarbon recovery, currently handles more than 50 million litres of marine and industrial oil each year and sells specialist fuels to sectors such as brewing, food production, aggregates and abattoirs.
Commercial director Phil Evans said: “Paul has a wealth of relevant experience and has worked with a wide range of industries across Yorkshire, Lancashire and around the UK for many years. He has been brought on board to help us with the growth of our fuel oils business for a range of industries that are heavy users of heating oil.”
Paul began his career working in the stores of a chemicals company in Castleford, where he still lives. He then moved into the recycling industry working for several blue chip companies.
Paul’s appointment follows the retirement of fuel sales manager Derek Crossley, who has been with the company since 2012 and has enjoyed a 48-year career, including six years in the Royal Navy and 30 years in the fuel industry.
Established in 1996, RE:Group has three sites in Hull, including its new head office, and a collection site in North Lincolnshire. The company has in-house UKAS-accredited laboratories and invests significantly in research and development.www.regroup.uk.com
Lee Webb – a highly experienced engineer who will drive continuous improvement throughout Emco Wheaton’s factory
Lee Webb has been appointed as production manager at Emco Wheaton’s Margate plant in Kent.
“Lee is a highly experienced engineer with a wealth of experience,” said general manager Andrew Dawson-Goodey.
“His knowledge of operations and production within a manufacturing environment will further strengthen Emco Wheaton’s production facility as well as growing the company’s capabilities as customers’ requirements develop.
A graduate of the University of Warwick with an MSc in engineering business management and a post graduate award in manufacturing engineering systems, Lee joins Emco Wheaton from Cummins Power Generation, where his roles included, value stream transformation manager, senior manufacturing engineer/certified 6S green belt and operations manufacturing engineer.
“We’re delighted to welcome a production manager of Lee’s calibre to Emco Wheaton,” added Andrew.
Lee will be focusing on driving continuous improvement throughout the factory, to be able to deliver shorter cycle times and improve on time delivery.www.emcowheaton.com
Staffordshire Fuels, a 32 million litres per year business based at Stone has been acquired by NWF Fuels; a move that will increase the latter’s volume by 8%.
Staffordshire Fuels, which was established in 1996, operates a fleet of seven tankers and will continue to operate as a standalone fuel depot.
Richard Whiting, the NWF Group’s chief executive said: “The acquisition is in line with our growth strategy, increases our penetration in Staffordshire and the West Midlands and will be earnings enhancing in the first full year.”
Both companies operate as longstanding JET-branded authorised distributors.
“Phillips 66 is a long-term fuel supplier to both Staffordshire Fuels and NWF Fuels,” said Mary Wolf, managing director of Phillips 66 UK & Ireland Marketing.
“NWF Fuels has been a JET branded distributor since 1996 and it’s fantastic to see the company continue to go from strength to strength over the years. Just last year Phillips 66 joined NWF Fuels in celebrating the opening of the company’s new Mansfield depot, the latest fuel distribution depot in its strategic expansion plan. The Mansfield depot is supplied by our Humber Refinery.
“We would also like to acknowledge the great relationship we’ve had with Staffordshire Fuels over the many years we’ve been working together. We now look forward to building on our relationship with NWF Fuels as the business continues to develop its presence in Staffordshire and the West Midlands following the acquisition of Staffordshire Fuels.”
www.nwf.co.uk
www.staffsfuels.co.uk
Andy Smith brings 17 years experience in the fuel card business to Rix-owned Fuelmate
Well-known industry professional Andy Smith has been appointed to head up the Rix-owned Fuelmate fuel card operation.
“Fuel cards are my background. I started as a sales rep at 19-years old and have worked in the industry ever since.
“In that time I’ve always been aware of Rix – the company has a great reputation – so I’m am really pleased to have been appointed to head up Fuelmate which has fantastic potential.
During his career Andy has launched a fuel card division from a standing start, growing it to turnover £50m in nine years. At 29 he was appointed to senior management level managing both fuel card and retail divisions. He has spent the past four years working in Ireland to grow his knowledge of the European fuel card market.
“I will be looking to capitalise on, and grow, the existing brand value of the business whilst working closely with sales and account teams to ensure we’re deriving the greatest value we can from our resources for our customers.
“I have my eye firmly on growth and I’m looking forward to taking the business to the next level.”
“Andy has a great pedigree in the industry,” said Rory Clarke, managing director of Rix Petroleum.
“We’re very excited to have him on board and confident that Fuelmate is great hands with Andy at the helm.”
Hull-based Fuelmate currently employs 15 people across sales, account management and admin roles. The company supplies all major fuel cards including Keyfuels and UK Fuels, BP, Shell, Texaco, Esso, European card DKV and Fleetmate – a bespoke solution aimed at fleet operators and based on the specific requirements of the client.
“Fuelmate can be tailored to the fleet operator’s needs and it’s is also scaleable,” added Andy. “It can be used by companies operating fleets of just three or four vehicles up to those with hundreds of vehicles.”www.fuelmate.co.uk
“This deal adds real substance to our operations here,” said Emmet O’Neill. “We believe there’s real scope to develop this business further through innovations like our Re.Store convenience stores and our partnership with Rockets in the years ahead.“
Following the acquisition by Topaz Investments, parent company of Topaz Energy, the Topaz network will extend to 425 service stations, 162 of which will be company owned, giving the company a presence in all 32 counties on the island of Ireland.
Welcoming the decision by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to approve the purchase of Esso Ireland’s fuels and convenience business in Ireland, Emmet O’Neill, chief executive of Topaz Energy said:
“In just 10 years, Topaz has successfully taken on and bought out the Irish retail businesses of three of the largest oil companies in the world – Shell, Statoil and now Esso – to create a truly significant and innovative Irish business and a major Irish employer.”
The deal will see Esso Ireland and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Ireland ROC and Esso Ireland Manufacturing Company acquired by Topaz. The deal does not include ExxonMobil’s upstream, chemical and lubricants businesses in Ireland which are unaffected by this transaction.
The CCPC has directed that Topaz must dispose of three Esso service stations and also its interest in the Joint Fuels Terminal at Dublin Port.
Following the transaction, which is expected to close on 1st December, Topaz will become one of the top 10 largest companies in Ireland with a turnover of approximately €3.5 billion and employing 2,000 staff.
Topaz also has divisions in home heating, commercial and aviation fuel supply.www.topaz.ie
Designed with a bespoke modification to the highly successful single compartment version of the established 42,000 litre LAG 6 compartment petrol tankers, Inver Energy’s latest tanker has joined others seeking to take the title of Fuel Oil News 2015 tanker of the year.
Certas Energy retail director, Ramsay MacDonald and cluster manager Senga Mulrine with TV comedian Alexander Armstrong
Gulf-branded Carronvale Service Station has received top prize in the Best Forecourt in Scotland (+4 million litres pa) category in the Forecourt Trader awards 2015.
“Carronvale is a site we are proud of,” said Colin Levy, retail operations manager at Certas Energy, which operates the flagship petrol forecourt.
“Although a large forecourt in a busy location, store manager Derek Paton and his team are still able to provide a personal touch and genuine customer service. Employees at the site listen to feedback to ensure the product range meets the customers’ needs. Within our growing company portfolio of 23 company-owned sites, Carronvale deserves its standing as our leading forecourt.”
“This award is testimony that we deserve our status as the company’s flagship store,” added Derek.
Ribble Fuel Oils has entered its Magyar-built tanker for the title of Fuel Oil News 2015 tanker of the year.
Jan Ward – delighted to be joining Millers Oils
Millers Oils has appointed Jan Ward CBE as the new chair of the board of directors.
Jan takes up the role of non-executive chair with immediate effect and has over 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas, petrochemical and power industries. With a mechanical engineering background, she is founder and CEO of Corrotherm International Ltd and has been an enthusiastic promoter of innovation and women in engineering since the outset of her career.
“I am delighted to be joining Millers Oils to build on the opportunity that their portfolio of cutting edge oils products offer in the automotive, commercial vehicle and industrial sector,” said Jan.
In 2009, Jan was named the UK’s most inspirational female entrepreneur, she received a CBE in the 2014 New Years Honours in recognition of her success in guiding and promoting innovative British businesses.
Jan takes over from Andrew Miller, who makes the move to non-executive director.
“Millers Oils has always been an innovative company and I look forward to working with Jan to maintain the impetus we have made in recent years,” said Andrew.www.millersoils.co.uk
Olleco announced last week that the company had completed its acquisition of Convert2Green.
The UK’s largest converter of used cooking oil and food waste into renewable energy, the acquisition is evidence of Olleco’s continued commitment to achieve its vision of 100% resource recovery for the food industry.
Bringing together Convert2Green and Olleco increases the company’s number of depots to 17 across the UK and enables the company to improve efficiencies and coverage to enhance the used cooking oil collection service offered to its customers. The work done by Convert2Green on producing carbon efficient fuels is an exciting addition to Olleco’s range of low carbon bio-liquid fuels and the company working to develop the possibilities of these fuels in the future.
Commercial director Adam Baisley said: “We’re delighted to welcome Convert2Green customers and staff to Olleco. We aim to build on the strong foundation the company has established and extend our reliable and award winning services to our new customers.”
Olleco ensures that all of the organic waste it collects is converted into renewable energy and compost; nothing goes to landfill. www.olleco.co.uk
Catch up on the UK’s evolving biofuels market in the September 2015 issue of Fuel Oil News
In recognition of the 4th anniversary of the acquisition of the Stanlow Refinery, Essar Oil UK, whose Ellesmere Port site won its 19th consecutive RoSPA award, made a £7,500 donation to the West Cheshire Foodbank.
“The safety, good health and wellbeing of everyone who works at Stanlow is core business for us,” said site manager Jon Mason.
Essar Oil UK’s commitment to occupational health and safety at its Ellesmere Port site saw the company win a RoSPA Gold Award for 2015 and the Order of Distinction for 19 consecutive Gold Awards.
Representatives of the West Cheshire Foodbank attended the anniversary celebration at Stanlow, receiving over 900 kilos of food donated by employees in addition to the donation.
“I’m delighted that we were able to link our anniversary celebrations with support for a charity which is performing such valuable work in our local communities,” said Jon. “I would like to thank everyone at Stanlow for their personal contributions to such a deserving cause.”
“West Cheshire Foodbank is only able to respond to people struggling with food poverty because neighbours are generous,” said reverend Christine Jones, chair of the trustees.
“Essar has recognised the on-going local need and the workforce has pulled together to provide significant donations of food and money. When representatives from Foodbank were invited to receive the gifts at Essar’s fourth celebration, we were encouraged by the sense of community and to know there was support and understanding from local business.”
Stanlow produces approximately 15% of UK transport fuels, including three billion litres of petrol, 3.5 billion litres of diesel and two billion litres of jet fuel per year.
www.essar.com
“Independent fuel retailers don’t want to invest in their own engineering department or facilities management so we provide that service,” says Ian Jacques, the recently appointed group commercial director at the Eurotank Service Group
On 1st August, Eurotank will move to a new group structure in response to changes in the fuel retailing industry and sustained growth outside of the company’s core business in tank maintenance.
“With oil companies divesting sites we needed a structure that allowed us to meet the needs of our growing independent dealer customer base,” said Edward Wheeler, group managing director of Eurotank Service Group.
Eurotank Environmental, Eurotank Systems, Eurotank Construction and Eurotank Ireland will then come under the umbrella company, Eurotank Service Group.
Eurotank Environmental will continue to operate within the core business of tank maintenance and specialist related services. Eurotank’s pump & payment system service division has been merged with Eurotank’s reactive maintenance & vapour recovery system service engineering team and will operate as Eurotank Systems. The construction and installation division now operates as Eurotank Construction, while Eurotank Ireland remains its own entity, providing all of the services offered across the group.
“It was critical to us that the independent retailers feel that they’re only dealing with one entity, which is Eurotank,” added Wheeler.
“One of our strengths as a business is that we’re a single point of contact for customers. A good example of this is with our pump service contracts, where we maintain pumps, install new pumps, carry out vapour recovery testing, repair manholes, clean tanks and generally maintain the forecourt for customers.
The restructure also sees the appointment of Ian Jacques as group commercial director. The former managing director of Scheidt & Bachmann UK has worked closely with Eurotank since 2012, following the formation of the Eurotank/S&B partnership, which saw Eurotank become the service and installation arm of S&B in the UK and Ireland.
Eurotank Systems is now the commercial agent and distributer for S&B’s range of dispensers and payment systems in the UK & Irish markets, as well as its field-based technician support.www.eurotank.eu.com
The AGA portfolio includes AGA, Rangemaster, Mercury, Falcon, Marvel, Stanley and La Cornue. Headquartered in Leamington Spa, AGA has approximately $400 million in annual revenues and more than 2,500 employees worldwide
Subject to the approval of its shareholders the AGA Rangemaster Group is to be acquired by the US Middleby Corporation for £129.2 million.
Once the deal is completed later this year, the US firm has said it would carry out a strategic review of operations but was planning to keep AGA’s manufacturing in the UK.
“The addition of AGA’s world class brands, product range and manufacturing capability to our existing portfolio will further strengthen Middleby’s global reach and enhance our position as a leader in the premium segment for residential kitchen equipment,” said Middleby’s chairman and CEO Selim A. Bassoul.
“We believe this transaction will provide meaningful synergies as we build upon the combined strengths of both Middleby and AGA. We will leverage the existing sales, service and manufacturing capabilities of AGA with the Middleby market expertise, product innovation and well established global distribution network.”
Last year, AGA announced a fall in profits mainly because of pension costs, shop closures and site rationalisation, although revenues rose. Middleby will finance the transaction under its current $1.0 billion revolving credit facility. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.www.agarangemaster.comwww.middleby.com
Creating destination sites – Rontec’s ‘Shop n Drive’ brand sells its own ‘Eat Me’ food range
Having merged his two petrol retailing businesses – Snax 24 and Rontec – chairman Gerald Ronson has created one of the UK’s largest roadside retail businesses.
Over the last 12 months Rontec has made acquisitions totalling over £100 million pounds.
Based on delivery of 250 million litres of fuel per year and with a potential value of £1 billion over five years, the enlarged Rontec group has also entered into a five-year supply deal with BP.
Snax 24’s 44 sites have been added to Rontec’s 166 sites creating a business with 210 stations, including two motorway sites, and total combined sales per annum of around £1.5 billion; the majority of the enlarged group’s sites are freehold. The group, substantially all of which is owned by Gerald Ronson and his family and charitable trusts, will operate under the Rontec name, is based in Watford, and provides employment for 2,500 people nationwide.
“Having opened our first petrol station in St Albans in 1966 and developed nearly 1,000 in the UK since, this is a business we’re passionate about,” said chairman Gerald Ronson CBE, who pioneered self-service petrol stations in the UK.rontec.com
On Friday 26th June, State Oil announced that it had successfully completed the acquisition of Harvest Energy and Harvest Energy Aviation.
Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will be owned by the current shareholders of State Oil.
The enlarged group expects that its annual sales volume will represent a 15% share of the UK’s road fuel demand. The activities of the merged companies will be separated with sales and marketing performing under the Harvest Energy brand and the remaining businesses, including terminal management and cargo trading operating under the Prax marque.
Headquartered in Weybridge UK and with a trading office in Zug Switzerland, the State Oil group is a leading independent trading, storage, distribution and retail conglomerate dealing in petroleum products and biofuels. It has substantial syndicated banking facilities which provide a platform to support the group’s national and international ambitions.
State Oil’s managing director Sanjeev Kumar said: “These acquisitions bring together strong and complementary companies that will create a major UK downstream business with a strong brand which will benefit our customers and allow us to compete on a truly national scale. I am very much looking forward to leading the enhanced group. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our banks and professional advisors for their energy and tenacity which ensured the successful consummation of this transaction.” www.praxpetroleum.com
Pete George will retire at the end of September 2015
Having started his career with Conoco in the routing office at Immingham 45 years ago, Pete George, now managing director of UK & Ireland marketing at Phillips 66, is to retire.
Pete’s career began in 1970 when he began taking orders from customers and allocating work to what were then the company’s in-house drivers.
In the course of his career with Conoco, ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66, Pete has had 14 different roles in several locations. In addition to Immingham he has also worked in London, Slough, Manchester, an 18 month training stint that included Kingsbury, Cliffe (Kent), Tyneside and London, back to Immingham, Harrogate, Warwick, Brussels and then Warwick again!
Speaking about the variety across his 14 roles Pete said it had been a joy getting to know the company’s customers.
“Our customers have diverse backgrounds and businesses and it has been a joy getting to know them and building relationships over the years.”
Asked what he hoped would be his legacy, he added: “An organisation that has a great attitude towards getting things done efficiently by helping and supporting each other.
“No egos, no politics – that’s what our customers demand and they are the reason we are here.”
Mary Wolf will be taking on the role of managing director, UK & Ireland Marketing with effect from 2nd October 2015.www.phillips66.co.uk
Colin Levy is looking forward to “expanding the company‑owned retail forecourt position and to becoming a more prominent player in the forecourt industry”
Last month Colin Levy joined Certas Energy’s retail division as company-owned operations manager.
Based at the company’s Scottish head office in Larbert, Falkirk, Colin brings almost 20 years’ experience in the forecourt retail arena, primarily with BP and partner companies. Colin’s career saw him progress from store management to area management, covering stores in Scotland, North West and North East of England.
In his new position, Colin is responsible for maintaining the safety and operational performance at the 21 Gulf and Shell branded sites owned by Certas Energy across Scotland, while looking for opportunities of potential growth which fit in with the company’s strategy.
“I was drawn towards this role at Certas after learning about the ambition within the retail team and expansion plans for the business,” commented Colin. “I pride myself on the service I provide to customers and am always looking for ways I can improve customer service levels.
“I look forward to being able to help push the retail side of the business forward, with a view to expanding the company‑owned retail forecourt position and to becoming a more prominent player in the forecourt industry.”
“We warmly welcome Colin to our growing retail team,” said retail director Ramsay MacDonald. “Colin has a proven track record of driving improvements in store standards and performance. As Colin begins to embed himself in the business, we will be looking for him to utilise his experience and develop our business even further.”
Certas Energy currently delivers fuel and lubricants to over 1,200 independent and dealer forecourts across the UK.www.certasenergy.co.uk
Senior advisor to CD&R Funds, Sir Terry Leahy is joining the MFG board
Private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, (CD&R) will be partnering with the Motor Fuel Group (MFG) to acquire the company from its original institutional investor, Patron.
Former chief executive of Tesco and current chairman of B&M European Value Retail, Sir Terry Leahy is a senior advisor to CD&R’s Funds.
The transaction, which is valued at approximately £500 million, is expected to close in July, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
The MFG management team, whose chairman is oil industry veteran Alasdair Locke, partnered with Patron in 2011 to acquire the MFG business and today, it is the number two independent petrol and convenience retailer in the UK.
Through a series of strategic acquisitions, Patron and MFG management have grown the company from 48 stations in 2011 to a current total of 373 stations operating under the BP, Shell, Texaco and Jet brands. In addition, MFG also operates a Murco-branded dealer network of more than 200 sites.
In April 2015, MFG was ranked 9th in a league table of Britain’s 100 private companies with the fastest-growing profits in the 16th annual Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100.
Jeremy Clarke, managing director of MFG said: “We thank Patron for helping us to become one of the largest, most dynamic and profitable independent petrol and convenience retail operators in the UK and we are excited to be partnering with CD&R. The firm’s reputation for operational excellence and deep consumer and retail experience will be especially useful as we move the business forward to the next stage of profitable growth.
“We are also delighted that Sir Terry Leahy will be joining the MFG board.”
Marco Herbst, a partner at CD&R, commented: “We look forward to building on MFG management team’s success by continuing to accelerate the company’s transformation into a best-in-class petrol and convenience retailer.”www.cdr-inc.comwww.motorfuelgroup.com
Newly appointed FPS president, Duncan Grant intends ‘to use every opportunity and more to promote what is an incredibly hard working and conscientious industry’
On 22nd April 2015 Duncan Grant, Certas Energy’s customer sales and development manager, was appointed as the 31st Federation of Petroleum Supplier (FPS) president.
Formerly FPS vice president and regional representative for the West Midlands, Duncan Grant, who is based in Certas Energy’s Coleshill depot, takes over the presidency from Mark Nolan of Nolan Fuel Oils who has been president for the last two years.
Duncan brings extensive experience and expertise to the role having spent over 32 years in the industry with companies such as BP Oil, Kuwait Petroleum, Pace Fuelcare and now Certas Energy, one of the largest fuel distributors in the UK.
Commenting on his appointment, Duncan said: “As president I will be working closely with FPS chief executive, Mark Askew and the FPS team to support them in the day to day running of the organisation as well as being an ambassador for the industry as a whole.
“The oil distribution industry is facing some tough times, the growth of online ordering, buying groups and agents are changing the way our industry trades. Distributors who can’t adapt or embrace change may start to find life difficult. So, as part of my role, I want to ensure that the pros and cons of the different ways of purchasing heating oil are understood and communicated to both the industry and customers.
“Oil supply and availability, particularly at peak periods, also remains a significant threat. The FPS stock sheet is helping the government understand the issues and dangers. The threat of a stock out remains high but, during my time as president, I will ensure that our members are heard at government level.
“I also think that we must try to improve the image of the industry in order to repair the reputational damage, mostly undeserved, which has been attached to the sector in recent years. I intend to use every opportunity and more to promote what is an incredibly hard working and conscientious industry.
“The FPS is doing lots of exciting work at the moment and has been working closely with the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and consumer groups on different initiatives from the Buy Oil Early Campaign through to the launch of the FPS Surviving Winter Charity, which helps those in fuel poverty who receive heating oil with the help of local community foundations and their surviving winter campaign. We are hoping to expand on this initiative in 2015.
“The FPS is in a strong position to continue to represent the industry. It is important that all members of the FPS, whether they are large or small companies, feel that the FPS is addressing the issues which affect them, and this will always be a challenge for the future.
“At local level, all members are given the opportunity to share and contribute to all these relevant issues and I will continue to work closely with all our members both existing and new.” www.fpsonline.co.ukSEE THE JUNE ISSUE OF FUEL OIL NEWS FOR MARK NOLAN’S REFLECTIONS ON HIS TENURE AS FPS PRESIDENT
As part of its Corporate Giving programme, Brogan Fuels has presented a defibrillator unit to Lochar Thistle Youths AFC who play and train at Heathhall, Dumfries.
OSS, the trading name of Hydrodec (UK), has acquired the business, assets and trade name of Eco-Oil from Eco-Oil International and its subsidiaries.
Together with Hydrodec UK’s existing OSS business this new operation will provide an excellent platform for growth whilst consolidating Hydrodec’s position as the UK’s leading service provider in used oil collection, products and associated waste services.
Both OSS and Eco-Oil collect and recycle waste oil and workshop hazardous waste together with fuel oil sales. Under the new arrangement both companies will in the short term continue to service existing customers as now and will trade under the existing business names. When and if appropriate changes will be made to achieve maximum synergy from the acquisition.
According to Hydrodec: “It’s important for our combined customer base to know that the service delivery will remain at its current high standard. It really is business as usual with customers being unaffected. The merging of the two businesses will give us a much broader operating base to eventually allow us to improve and enlarge the service we offer.”
The acquisition of the Eco-Oil business further secures the supply chain for used oil collection in the UK and underpins Hydrodec’s plans to invest in a base oil re-refinery. The combined entity will offer significant opportunities to improve the efficiency of the business model as well as improve a market leading total waste solutions for both existing and new customers in the automotive and industrial sectors.
www.ossgroup.uk.com
www.hydrodec.com
www.eco-oil.eu.com
This week Shell UK accepted offers for the sale of 185 company-owned service stations to selected independent dealers and has exchanged contracts for 158 of these service stations.
Through this transaction, Shell welcomes Motor Fuel Group (MFG) as a Shell dealer and strengthens its relationship with Euro Garages. It is anticipated that contracts for the remaining service stations will be exchanged in the coming weeks.
Of the 158 company owned sites, 90 have been purchased by Motor Fuel Group and 68 by Euro Garages. Handover of these service stations to the new owners will be completed by the end of 2015.
Spread across Great Britain, the 185 service stations will retain the Shell brand. Dealers will continue to sell Shell fuels for at least the first five years following the sale.
Shell
David Moss, Shell’s retail general manager, North Europe, said: “Our priority is to ensure that a consistently excellent customer offer is available across our network, whether the service station is owned by Shell or by an independent dealer. That’s why we selected these independent dealers to work with, as they will invest in the sites and aim to deliver the same high standards of safety and customer care that are synonymous with the Shell brand.” https://www.shell.co.uk/
MFG
MFG’s managing director, Jeremy Clarke said: “We’re delighted to be bringing another major brand to the MFG network. This acquisition reinforces our commitment to become one of the most dynamic and profitable independent forecourt operators in the UK. We’re
looking forward to working with Shell to maximise the potential of these sites to the benefit of our customers.” www.motorfuelgroup.com
Euro Garages
Zuber Issa, chief executive, Euro Garages, said: “The site portfolio secured extends our UK presence and consolidates our existing forecourt estate. As a result, more customers will be able to enjoy our branded retail convenience offer, whilst still being able to access quality Shell fuels and lubricants.” www.eurogarages.com
READ AN INTERVIEW WITH EURO GARAGES’ COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR IN THE OCTOBER 2014 ISSUE OF FUEL OIL NEWS
HW Humphrey and Son reports that the EA Projects upgrade has given the company ‘many advantages’
EA Projects, which will be exhibiting at next month’s FPS EXPO, has installed new tanker loading and tank gauging systems for Porthmadog-based distributor HW Humphrey and Son.
“The installation of the EA Projects TAS has given us many advantages that we didn’t have before,” said Arwel Evans.
“This includes the automatic recording of all meter movements at the site including all our bunker sales. Being able to have all this information in one central system is a huge benefit for us and we’re very pleased with the system.”
The project included a major overhaul of the tank gauging systems on the site which has two separate tank farms. EAP supplied and installed new Hectronic Optilevel gauges to monitor product level, temperature and water level across 14 tanks which are achieving measurement accuracy of +/- 1mm .
An integrated bunkering system for refuelling the Humphreys fleet was also supplied which allows the distributor to reconcile all meter movements against physical stock levels and also provides detailed reporting on deliveries taken by third parties.
Additionally the iSupervisor TAS was supplied to control tanker loading via 4 arm bottom loading skid fitted with Isoil Vega II batch controllers which are being used to load the tankers of Humphries Oils and a third party. These loads are all based on loading plans managed by the system that may be controlled by the iSupervisor web interface either on or off site.www.humphreysoil.co.ukwww.ea-projects.com
Following acquisition of the retail assets of Murco Petroleum last October, the Motor Fuel Group (MFG) is replacing the Murco brand on its company station estate.
From 1 April 2015, BP fuel supply will commence at 136 stations (previously 49), JET supply at 68 stations (previously 10) and Texaco supply at 78 stations. Station rebranding programmes will commence immediately and are expected to be complete by the end of Q2 this year.
“Following exhaustive and detailed negotiations we’re delighted to have these three strong fuel brands throughout the MFG company station network,” said MFG fuels director Jim Mulheran.
“Together they give us supply, price and image flexibility which means that we can maximise the offer to motorists in each and every location that we operate.”
The Murco brand
“This deal doesn’t mean that the Murco brand will disappear,” said MFG managing director, Jeremy Clarke, who with his dealer team headed by Paul Almond, now “have the opportunity to put more emphasis and time on Murco as an exclusive dealer brand.”
“We’re giving our dealer business exclusivity to the Murco brand and along with this will be actively looking to grow the Murco network with a package which combines flexible delivery arrangements and a new, positive method of offering our dealers some very attractive trading terms.
“We can tailor our fuel supply arrangements to meet the individual needs of a customer, contribute towards forecourt or shop development projects and strongly believe that we can match, if not beat, any supply arrangements offered in the marketplace today.”
www.motorfuelgroup.com