Car Care & Lubricants Archives - Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer

Maxol launches new loyalty app allowing customers to pay from the drivers’ seat

Linda Stewart — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:25:20 +0000

Maxol has announced the launch of a new loyalty app, the first of its kind in Ireland to implement FuelPay, allowing customers to pay for their fuel from their vehicle.

The more consumers use the Maxol Loyalty App, the more they are rewarded by Ireland’s convenience forecourt retailer.

The Maxol Loyalty App is the result of extensive research and a six-figure investment by the forecourt retailer, which claims it is the most technologically advanced app in its sector.

FuelPay works by using geo-fencing and the user’s phone GPS to determine which service station the customer is located at, and customers can turn on the fuel pump with their phone by entering the specific pump number on the app without exiting their car.

The app, designed and developed with Liquid Barcodes, a loyalty technology company specialising in the convenience store and food services industries, will be available to customers across 76 Maxol locations in Ireland.

Brian Donaldson, Maxol Group CEO, said: “As a family-owned Irish company we have a strong network of loyal customers that have helped us grow from strength to strength. This app is another milestone in continuing to reward and retain loyal customers and help move our business forward, both digitally and technologically.

“FuelPay will also be available shortly for all Maxol fuel card customers, which includes small to medium businesses, large corporate organisations and state governing bodies.”

Maxol said the loyalty proposition was conceived following in-depth research on global best practice and includes two main elements: “digital stamps” to reward frequent purchases of coffee and car washes, and “stars” to reward recent visits and customer referrals who sign up for the app.

The app has a wide range of offers and rewards for members across products such as ROSA Coffee (buy five, get a sixth free), car wash (buy four, receive a complimentary car wash) and lots more. All members will also receive exclusive monthly offers that will rotate between confectionery, snacks, and beverages during the year.

The app also has a station finder that will locate the nearest Maxol service station quickly and if a customer is having an issue trying to figure out the right oil for their car, they can use the Maxol Engine Oil Advisor feature to steer them in the right direction.

The app also introduces a new community of Gold Star members for customers, offering a gold star for those who spend €5 in-store or €30 on fuel. When a customer collects 10 gold stars over a 90-day period, they become a Gold Member, which gives them access to more offers and special treats.

Maxol has invested more than €210m in expanding and upgrading its service station network over the past decade, acquiring 23 freehold properties and completing large-scale developments of 25 others, together with 50 smaller site projects.

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PRA urges UK Chancellor to cut fuel duty, warning NI retailers will lose out

Linda Stewart — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 10:59:12 +0000

The Petrol Retailers Association has urged the UK Chancellor to cut fuel duty, warning that retailers in Northern Ireland are being put at a disadvantage.
Global energy prices are still volatile due to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, unduly impacting consumers at the same time as cost-of-living increases, the PRA says.
The PRA is calling on the Chancellor to follow the example of other European countries and cut fuel duty to shield consumers from international events.
The Republic of Ireland (ROI) has cut fuel duty, putting forecourts in Northern Ireland (NI) at a competitive disadvantage as motorists and fleet operators cross the border to fill their tanks.
Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the PRA said: “It is crucial that the Government takes steps to reduce the burden of energy prices on consumers. Government inaction is now impacting our members in NI, who are unable to match the prices of their counterparts across the border. We strongly urge the Chancellor to follow the example of other European countries and cut fuel duty.”
In a letter to the Chancellor, the PRA warned: “We expect that NI residents that can take advantage of the significant difference in pump prices across the border will do so and heavy goods vehicles (HGV) operators will be sending their fleets in greater numbers to ROI border sites to replenish their vehicles, reducing demand for petrol filling stations in NI and hampering their ability to continue their operation through no fault of their own.
“This is putting our NI members at a competitive disadvantage, as it is impossible to match prices across the border without Government intervention.
“While the ROI, along with other European countries, has taken significant steps to shield their consumers and businesses from soaring energy prices, the UK is yet to act. At a time when cost-of-living is increasing, rising energy prices are something motorists in this country can’t afford.
“This will impact the poorest among us the hardest as they are slowly priced off the roads. The need for Government action is urgent. With no end to the Ukraine crisis in sight it falls upon the Government to shield its population. The continued absence of action will have a detrimental impact on UK consumers.”

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UK pump prices hit fresh records: RAC

Linda Stewart — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 10:37:49 +0000

Prices for both unleaded and diesel have hit fresh records at UK pumps, according to the RAC.
Speaking on 24 February, RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Both petrol and diesel reached new record levels yesterday. Unleaded is nearly 149.5p a litre and diesel almost 153p.
“Russia’s actions will now push petrol pump prices up to £1.50 very soon. The question then becomes where will this stop and how much can drivers take just as many are using their cars more and returning to workplaces.
“If the oil price was to increase to $110 there’s a very real danger the average price of petrol would hit £1.55 a litre. This would cause untold financial difficulties for many people who depend on their cars for getting to work and running their lives as it would sky rocket the cost of a full tank to £85. At $120 a barrel – without any change to the exchange rate which is currently at $1.35 – we would be looking £1.60 a litre and £88 for a full tank.”
The long-running records set in April 2012 were: petrol – 142.48p; diesel -147.93p. These were first broken in late October: for petrol, prices hit 142.94p on 24 Oct and on 31 Oct 147.94p for diesel.
Records were then set on a daily basis until 21 Nov when petrol hit 147.72p and diesel 151.10p on 20 Nov.
These stood until 13 Feb when petrol went to 148.02p and diesel 151.57p. We then saw prices climb further, almost daily, until petrol topped 149p on Sunday 21 Feb – petrol: 149.12p and diesel 152.58p.
Since then the RAC has recorded almost almost daily new records.

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European oil facilities hit by cyber-attacks

Linda Stewart — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 10:25:57 +0000

Oil transport and storage companies across Europe have been hit by cyber-attacks.

IT systems have been disrupted at Oiltanking in Germany, SEA-Invest in Belgium and Evos in the Netherlands.

In total dozens of terminals with oil storage and transport around the world have been affected, with firms reporting that the attacks occurred over the weekend.

But experts caution against assuming this is a co-ordinated attack.

Belgian prosecutors say they are investigating the cyber-attack that has affected SEA-Invest terminals including the company’s largest in Antwerp, called SEA-Tank.

A spokeswoman for the company said they were hit on Sunday with every port they run in Europe and Africa affected.

The company is working to get a back-up IT system online but says that most liquid transportation is operational.

The spokeswoman said SEA-Invest is aware of the cyber-attacks against other companies but investigations have not determined if there is a link.

A spokesperson for Evos in the Netherlands told the BBC that IT services at terminals in Terneuzen, Ghent and Malta have “caused some delays in execution”.

On Monday Oiltanking Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, which stores and transports oil, vehicle fuels and other petroleum products, said it had been hacked.

The company was forced to operate at a “limited capacity” and was investigating the incident, it said.

Some reports suggest the attack on Oiltanking is ransomware, where hackers scramble data and make computer systems inoperable until they get paid a ransom.

In May last year a ransomware attack on US oil supplier Colonial Pipeline saw supplies tighten across the US and multiple states declaring an emergency.

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Show Ireland some Xtra love with Inver

Beth Mason — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 09:00:13 +0000

Most of us are staying home this summer, enjoying a staycation. During these challenging times, we have now afforded the opportunity to see our beautiful country with fresh eyes.

We are known for our hospitality, and now we have the chance to extend a ‘céad míle fáilte’ to each other as we support local and national.

Ireland is the perfect country for a road trip. One example is The Wild Atlantic Way, which is a drivers dream, offering up the longest coastal route in the world. Covering nine counties with a total of 2,750km The Wild Atlantic Way provides fantastic views, drives through well-known towns and an abundance of opportunities for adventure, swimming, sailing, kayaking, hikes, great food to name a few.

Inver launched ‘Show Ireland some Xtra love’ with our new additized fuel, Inver Xtra. Everyone is encouraged to share photos from their staycation on our Facebook page (@invercommunity) and Instagram (@inverservicestations). While showing our beautiful country some Xtra love, you can win €150 Inver fuel card over the next few weeks.

Have fabulous holidays at home and fuel up with Inver Xtra, our new additized fuel that helps clean your engine, and is good for our environment!

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