The launch of a new online meal and grocery delivery service in partnership with Copenhagen-based food-tech company Noahs, is a significant evolution in the Maxol’s foodservice strategy. IF&CR asks Maxol CEO Brian Donaldson, what was the thinking behind this initiative?

“While Maxol’s fresh food offering has traditionally focused on breakfast and lunchtime, customer expectations and lifestyles have evolved significantly. Today’s consumers are busier than ever, and they are seeking greater flexibility, convenience and quality right throughout the day, whether they are at home, at work or on the move” he told IF&CR.

“In response to these changing needs, Maxol has partnered with international food-tech company Noahs to introduce a first-of-its-kind meal and grocery delivery service in Ireland. The partnership reflects Maxol’s commitment to serving customers beyond traditional meal occasions, making high-quality food and everyday essentials available whenever and wherever they are needed.

“Through Noahs’ innovative digital platform, customers can order freshly prepared, cooked-to-order meals alongside grocery items in a single seamless transaction. By partnering with leading delivery platforms including Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, Maxol can now bring both hot food and selected groceries straight to customers under the campaign tagline – “Bags More, Straight To Your Door”.

“The new service significantly expands Maxol’s food offering, enabling customers to enjoy restaurant-quality meals such as pizzas, burgers, Mexican bowls and more, delivered with the convenience they increasingly expect. It marks an important step in our ongoing focus on providing greater choice, accessibility and convenience for today’s time-pressed consumers.

“While currently available at selected sites in Leinster, we are preparing to roll out the offering to 60+ Maxol locations.”

Customer Feedback

Launched at three pilot sites on 22^nd April – Newbridge (Kildare), Ardbrae (Wicklow) and the Long Mile Road store (Dublin) – how has the new service been received by customers and in-store staff?

“Initial customer feedback has been extremely positive, with the new delivery service resonating strongly among consumers who are clearly seeking greater convenience and flexibility. Given that this is a new, innovative – and possibly unexpected – offering for the Irish market, the level of customer interest has been particularly encouraging.

“To build on this momentum, Maxol is investing in targeted marketing support to increase awareness and drive trial, particularly as the service expands across its network.

“The new service has generated real excitement among Maxol’s retailers and staff who are proud to work for a business that continues to innovate and introduce new solutions and services for customers. Colleagues have gotten behind and embraced the opportunity to offer an expanded range of freshly cooked food to customers, helping them to get the most out of their busy days. Being at the forefront of a first-to-market proposition in Ireland has created a strong sense of pride and engagement across the team.

Phased Approach

When can we expect to see the roll out to 60+ outlets in the South?

“We are still working through a phased approach timeline, as we want to ensure we take all the learnings from the initial trial sites. However, the ambition is to drive significant scale by Q4 2026.”

Another ‘first’ for Maxol

It’s another ‘first’ for Maxol in Ireland – and a generation have totally embraced Just Eat, Uber Eat, Deliveroo etc – it seems a ‘no brainer’ that the forecourt sector would eventually embrace the trend too. When did Maxol start work on the initiative and what was involved?

“The partnership with Noahs was fostered over a year ago, through relationships we have built through NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores). We met with Daniel Baven and some of his team and learnt about the great success they have had in other markets, including Denmark and felt it was a great fit for Maxol. It allows us to deliver on convenience in a meaningful way for today’s busy consumers, by bringing “Bags More, Straight to Their Door”.

Digital Kiosks

Maxol is also introducing instore ‘digital kiosks.’

“We have already started the roll-out of our in-store digital kiosks, designed to enhance speed and convenience for busy shoppers.  We’ve made it easy for our customers to browse menus, customise orders and choose how they order in-store. This is helping to reduce wait times while creating a more flexible and intuitive experience. And importantly, while our digital kiosks will make for a more seamless experience, they will always be complemented by the friendly and personal service for which our stores – and our retailers – are known.”

Homegrown

Another significant Maxol initiative that’s going from strength to strength is of course Maxol Homegrown. Now in its third year the most recent recipients were announced recently.

“Now in its third year, Homegrown at Maxol has quickly become a recognised platform for fantastic indigenous businesses looking to scale up, offering not just visibility but tangible opportunities and support: PR and marketing, access to nationwide retail distribution through the Maxol store network, mentorship and access to a Homegrown alumni network.

“This year’s Homegrown at Maxol entries revealed a distinct and interesting pattern. For the first time, there was a clear trend among applicants towards products designed for consumers with active lifestyle looking to make smarter choices.  It is a shift that mirrors global trends but equally resonates in Ireland, where there is a growing focus on wellbeing and food options that support busy lives. This trend did influence our judging process and helped us decide on our three 2026 Homegrown at Maxol winners, Oatco, Well. Can’d Water and WONDR Jellies, all of which capture this trend perfectly.

“Oatco’s Super Bites, developed by Laura Murphy in Co Tyrone, are bite-sized snacks built around oats and other natural ingredients, designed to deliver sustained energy.      Murphy, a working mother and entrepreneur has grown the brand alongside a              community-oriented fitness initiative, the Oatco Run Club. Her timing has been fortuitous. Interest in functional snacks has surged in recent years, driven by consumers who want great-tasting options while also being part of a like-minded community.

Something Special

!Laura has clearly developed something special, and commercially viable, with the brand recently securing a €50,000 investment on Dragons’ Den, from investor Steven Bartlett who said her product was ‘absolutely banging’. What we can offer is potentially even       more valuable – consistent, everyday nationwide visibility and marketing support.

“Well. Can’d Water, this year’s second Homegrown at Maxol winner, addresses another growing consumer concern – environmental impact. Founded during the Covid period by Mark and Conor Ralph alongside 2024 League of Ireland champion John O’Sullivan, the company is Ireland’s first canned water brand. Its premise is simple but effective: replace single-use plastic bottles with fully recyclable aluminium cans.

“Sourced from the Dublin Mountains and packaged in Ireland, the product taps into a rising awareness around plastic waste and the carbon footprint of everyday consumption. Well. Can’d Water’s proposition and growing success suggest that there is nothing that can’t be reimagined through the lens of sustainability. The convenience of a grab-and-go format is paired with an ethos that resonates with our environmentally conscious consumers.

“WONDR Jellies, the third of our winners, is doing great things in a category that has           historically resisted change: confectionery. Developed by ex-League of Ireland footballer Mark Birrane, alongside, Michael Fox, formerly of Fulfil, the brand offers lower-sugar, high-protein and high-fibre jelly sweets aimed at those who want their treats but are also keen to make better choices.

“Fitness communities – including those involved in high-intensity training such as Hyrox – have embraced the product, as it fits into and supports their disciplined routines.      There’s a real honesty to this product, which is all about delivering moments of indulgence, without the guilt; and the team behind the brand understands that no amount of health messaging can compensate for a below-par taste experience.

“We particularly liked how all of the 2026 Homegrown at Maxol winners embodied the connection between food and lifestyle. We know that people are no longer just buying products; they are buying into producer stories and brands that reflect their values and their way of living.

Indigenous Irish Producers

Will Homegrown be launched again for a fourth year? What are you specifically looking for from indigenous Irish small food producers?

“The programme has been an outstanding success, both in terms of customer engagement and the opportunities it has created for both emerging and established Irish food producers. Going forward, our ambition is to evolve Homegrown at Maxol into a bi-annual programme, giving us the time and space to work more closely with existing winners and support them as they scale their businesses and maximise the benefits of being part of the Maxol network.

“The initiative is closely aligned not only with our own company values but also with changing consumer expectations. Customers are increasingly seeking high-quality products with strong provenance, and there is a growing preference for supporting local businesses and Irish producers. We continue to see strong demand for products that tell an authentic story and reflect the quality and innovation that exist within Ireland’s food and drink sector.

Entrepreneurship

“When evaluating applications, we look for products that are Irish, innovative and that will appeal to our customer base. We look to identify businesses that can genuinely benefit from our support and whose products bring something distinctive to the market. Quality is paramount, but we are always on the lookout for a clear point of difference; that could be the product itself, the ingredients used, the sustainability credentials, or the story behind the brand. Ultimately, we’re seeking passionate producers with great products and strong growth potential who can help us offer customers something unique while showcasing the very best of Irish food entrepreneurship.Top of Form

Investment Strategy

Bottom of Form

IFCR recently featured Maxol Long Road – are there any other forecourt refurbishments/developments in the pipeline with Maxol dealers or company owned sites?

“As part of our investment strategy, we have developed a dynamic capital expenditure programme for 2026 focused on a number of strategically selected sites across Dublin, Cavan, Clare, Laois, Limerick and Louth. The programme combines full redevelopments, partial redevelopments and targeted refurbishments, ensuring that               investment is tailored to the specific needs and opportunities of each location.

“Our objective is to transform these sites into even stronger destination locations that deliver a best-in-class customer experience while supporting long-term business growth. This includes creating larger, brighter and more modern retail environments, improving seating and customer facilities, optimising parking capacity and traffic flow, and further strengthening our food service proposition.

“A key element of the programme is the rollout of our new-look Deli concept, designed to provide customers with an enhanced all-day food-to-go experience. We will          also continue to expand our successful alliance with Dunnes Stores across selected locations, broadening our retail offer and increasing convenience, and choice, for customers.

“Overall, this investment programme reflects our commitment to continually evolving our network, strengthening our competitive position and ensuring our sites remain relevant, attractive and profitable for the future.”

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Further Initiatives

“Car Wash is a hugely important part of our business and one of our biggest innovations this year is Wash Club, a subscription model, where customers can get up to 10 washes per month for just €19.95 on our Regular plan. It has already gone live at three sites and not only does this deliver exceptional value but it is all app enabled, so time poor customers can activate the wash without going into the shop. This is a brand-new innovation and we’re excited to roll it out across 60+ sites in ROI over the summer, helping retain existing customers while also recruiting new customers to our network, as it’s a real point of differentiation.”

Dunnes Stores Alliance

Another initiative that really sets us apart is our alliance with Dunnes Stores where we have over 350 products listed in selected sites across Dublin. Most of these products are from the much-lauded Simply Better range, offering Maxol shoppers a wide range of high quality, fresh meats, cheeses and vegetables, ready-made meals ,as well as fruit, yogurts, frozen foods and wine. This caters for a convenience top up shop mission, as we constantly strive to deliver value and quality in every shop.”

Fifth Generation

“Maxol is a fifth-generation, Irish family business and we have always focused on our people as our best assets. We’re incredibly proud of our history and the role our retailers play in communities across the island of Ireland. Our strategy is to combine time-honoured values and personalised customer service with modern technology to deliver the highest level of service and support to our customers, delivering a best-in-class retail offering.”

AI Technology

 “Maxol ensures value for consumers at the pump by using AI technology which allows us to react dynamically to changes within the market and locally ensuring we are always    competitively priced. Using this technology was key in recent times and enabled our team to              be more efficient in responding to the impact of unprecedented geo-political events.

“We’re living in unprecedented times, so it is difficult to make predictions. However, we’re continuing to innovate to ensure that Maxol is in a strong position, to meet consumer needs. Food service and a strong retail offering are key to all motorists, whether they are in an electric or a petrol / diesel vehicle.”

The post Taking the Initiative – IFCR talks to Maxol’s Brian Donaldson appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

The new focus is on non-fuel sales with expanded Deli offering unveiled alongside new Zambrero, drive-through Burger King and expansion of the Dunnes Stores alliance.

Located at a prime position at the junction of the Naas, Long Mile and Nangor Roads, Maxol Long Mile Road already occupied a key arterial route between Dublin and Cork and Dublin and Limerick. Now, it has been completely transformed into a modern, sustainable roadside retail destination at the heart of the commuter belt.

“It took a number of months” said Thomas. “It was a total knock-down and rebuild from scratch. Following demolition, we were operating out of a portacabin for a few months. There’s basically nothing left of the old building.

“A lot of thought went into what is a really good project. I’ve done a couple of revamps with Maxol before, as I’ve been a dealer with Maxol for 16 years. This one was in the planning for a long time, but I’ve been happy with the whole process. There were a lot of people involved – with weekly site meetings and so on – but Maxol always has a great team to work with.”

€4.5 million redevelopment

The redevelopment of Maxol Long Mile Road, marks one of Maxol’s most significant single-site investments in recent years. It forms part of Maxol’s five-year, €175m investment strategy for growth, further strengthening the Irish forecourt and convenience retailer’s portfolio in Dublin.

The project involved the demolition of the former 340 sq. metre shop and the construction of a brand-new 547 sq. metre retail facility, significantly enhancing the customer experience and overall offering. The flagship store now features an expanded Maxol Deli, global Mexican restaurant Zambrero and a new Burger King restaurant complete with a drive-thru, as well as new digital ordering screens in-store for commuters and locals on the go.

In an extension of Maxol’s exclusive alliance with Dunnes Stores, Long Mile Road now offers premium meal solutions from the Simply Better and Dunnes Stores food range, as well as a range of premium wines.

The shop also includes 100 sq. metres of dedicated general retail space, Maxol’s signature coffee, ROSA Coffee, an off-licence, seating for 48 customers, ATM and modern washroom facilities.

“Basically, now it’s a food court that sells groceries. The food court is selling great quality food – we’ve added a lot to the range. The Fresh Food Team  at Maxol came up with the idea for Fresh Irish Breaded Chicken which is going down very well,” said Thomas.

“The whole Deli has been revitalised. Zambreros is particularly well received. Burgen King is trading well as always. There’s now massive sit-down areas, with both open areas and private booths for meetings. It’s all been really well thought through.

“The food complements the space – there’s also a really good offering across grocery with the new partnership with Dunnes Stores.

“It’s been really well received by customers – and staff are also delighted.

A first-class team

“We’re very lucky to have the staff we have. We kept some on the site in the temporary shop, while others were repositioned around the other stores – so that when we re-opened, we still had the same staff.

“We are all about our people – and customers were pleased to see that we have retained out staff.

“We re-opened on 19^th December – which was a great time to open a new shop. It was all hands on deck – but was very exciting and enjoyable. Staff loved being the centre of attention and it was lovely to see their sense of pride – they were really enjoying the moment.

“I’ve been 21 years working for myself and 30 years in retailing. It’s no big secret that if you look after your people and bring them on the journey with you, everyone benefits.

“All the staff were involved from the start. There was strong communication and everyone was excited about the whole project.

“Local customer and visitors are very impressed” said Thomas. “We had a group of overseas visitors in today and it was lovely to see how impressed they were.”

Dunnes Stores Offering

“We’ve not got a big Dunnes Stores offering – the Dunnes Partnership has been great. Both Maxol and Dunnes are two of Ireland’s great family  businesses. The whole experience of dealing with Dunnes has been great – they’re simplified the ordering process and are so easy to work with, so we have plans to do more to expand that relationship.

“We’ve also extended the off-licence with a full chilled wine and beer offering, which is going down well with customers too.”

Upgraded Forecourt

Upgrades have also been delivered on the forecourt to provide additional services including a state-of-the-art car wash and increased customer parking to improve traffic flow and customer convenience.

“Outside we’ve expanded and modernised the parking area, with a new modern car wash. We’ve upgraded all the pumps, added a new canopy – and EV charging points are a work in progress.”

A Maxol Milestone

“This redevelopment marks an exciting milestone for Maxol,” Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group, said. “The new-and-improved Maxol Long Mile Road is a testament to the company’s commitment to investing in high-quality, future-focused roadside retail destinations.

“Maxol is committed to setting the standard in modern roadside retail. At Long Mile Road, we have focused heavily on enhancing our food offering, introducing new and expanded brands to serve customers at every time of day. From breakfast through to dinner, we provide high-quality food to go and a wide variety of options for every customer.

“The redeveloped site is indicative of Maxol’s repositioning as a leading convenience retailer, with food, coffee, grocery and car washing services driving growth, while ensuring our sites meet the changing needs of our loyal customers. Our Licensee Thomas Ennis and his team excel at delivering a brilliant customer experience and we wish him and his store team every success.”

Energy-efficient

Maxol’s latest sustainable forecourt design has been fully implemented at Long Mile Road, incorporating:

• CO₂ refrigeration with energy-efficient doors.
• High-performance glazing to reduce heat loss.
• Heat pump technology for low-carbon heating.
• LED lighting throughout.
• Rooftop solar panels with inverter system to offset energy demand.

These measures significantly reduce the site’s environmental footprint while lowering long-term energy consumption. The redevelopment comes as the surrounding area continues to evolve under the City Edge Project, a joint initiative between Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council aimed at delivering up to 40,000 new homes and substantially increasing employment across the corridor.

Over the last decade, Maxol has invested more than €225 million in expanding and upgrading its service station network, including the acquisition of 23 freehold properties, the large-scale development of 25 sites and around 50 smaller projects.

The launch of the new Long Mile Road site was marked with a high-profile customer event – Lunch in the Bag. Delighted Maxol customers were treated to delicious food sampling from right across the in-store range, an FM104 live broadcast with Graham and Nathan and prizes galore.

Brand Loyalty

Thomas highlighted the positive relationship he has had with Maxol going back 16 years.

“I’m very loyal to Maxol, they have been with me every step of the way. We have a great relationship.”

Thomas now has twelve stores and four forecourts, since opening his first store on Merrion Row back in 2005.

Since then he has built the business up into what it is now – employing 320 people – with two more stores coming soon.

“I like to promote from within. Staff retention is very good. You can have all the best shops but without the right mix of people, it’s nothing. Staff are core to success.

“Everything in retailing – and particularly forecourt retailing – is changing. The consumer is more educated, and they want quality food. We can certainly stand over the quality of our food,” said Thomas.

“You have to keep looking out for what’s coming down the road –  but good quality food and exceptional service will always stay the same. You can dip into the trends – but people ultimately want good food, clean facilities, to feel safe and secure in bright surroundings, and to sit down and have good food.

“That’s where the future is – providing good quality food, in clean, bright, safe surroundings. That will always be on trend.”

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Q: Congratulations on your new role as Commercial Director at Certa Ireland, part of DCC plc. What does this new position involve?

“Thanks! I’m enjoying the new challenge. The new role is at the heart of driving the continued success of Certa as a leading energy brand in Ireland and a pioneering business in terms of energy transition for our customers” said Diarmuid.

“On the day-to-day, I’m busy working across the various departments in the business, collaborating with them to achieve the businesses objectives from a commercial perspective and endeavouring to grow our reach, footprint and impact on the energy landscape.

Q: What are your priorities as Commercial Director for Certa Ireland?

“My priorities are all based around the idea of building upon the great work that that has been done within Certa to date.

“One key objective as we continue our energy transition journey is supporting our expert teams in championing our renewable energy products. We have established ourselves as the leading supplier of HVO in Ireland to both businesses and consumers, giving our customers a viable low-carbon fuel alternative when it comes to fuelling their business fleets & machinery or indeed for fuelling their cars, and even heating their homes, through the launch of our HVO/kerosene blend heating fuel – EcoMax which we launched in 2024.

“Additionally, we are now a leading supplier of solar energy to Irish business & homes through our acquisition of Alternative Energy Ireland (AEI). Both of these products allow us give more power to our customers to choose greener energy solutions for their home and business.

“Next, with our ever-growing commercial team operating across various sectors – home heating, commercial fuels, solar energy, lubricants, retail, and more, I want to support all of our colleagues and teams to innovate and work together to develop and improve our offering to our customers. We have a culture of being bold & courageous, but also being One Team. We understand the importance of pulling in the same direction and I want to push that vision forward!”

Q: What key messages would you want to give IFCR readers regarding Certa Ireland?

“Only that we are a progressive business that has bold plans for the future! We want to make sure we give our customers the power to choose more sustainable solutions, and we will be continuing to deliver on this strategy in 2025 and beyond.”

Q: Will we see new forecourts in Ireland?

“Yes, absolutely. Our retail strategy is being actively led by Yvonne Hargroves, who heads up our retail team and brings extensive experience and energy to the role. Yvonne and her team are continually exploring new opportunities to grow the Emo dealer network across Ireland.

“Emo is a brand with deep roots in local communities, and we’re focused on partnering with dealers who share our values and commitment to quality. We’re always open to conversations with operators who are interested in joining the Emo family and benefiting from the strong support we provide. If you’re considering your options, we’d love to hear from you to discuss how Emo could support your business.”

Q: Are you overseeing the Emo Brand too as Commercial Director?

“Yes, I am—and it’s a key part of my remit as Commercial Director. The Emo retail business sits within the commercial team, which allows us to take a more integrated and strategic approach to supporting our dealers. With Yvonne leading the retail team, we’re combining deep sector expertise with a forward-thinking commercial strategy. This structure enables us to bring greater value to our Emo partners—whether through introducing renewable fuel options like HVO, supporting energy transition with solar solutions, or offering premium products like our Castrol lubricants.

“Our goal is to ensure dealers have the tools they need to future-proof their business and deliver best-in-class service to their customers. If you’re interested in learning more about what partnering with Emo looks like, we’d be delighted to start that conversation.

Q: The past few years have seen a flurry of great commercial developments for Certa Ireland, as part of DCC plc. The company structure can be a little confusing – could you give readers a whistlestop tour of the company structure?

“Absolutely! It’s not as complex as you might think.

“Certa is the coming together of multiple fuel and oil brands that were all under the DCC plc banner, and we wanted to give customers a more simple process of dealing with us. We merged all these businesses into Certa in 2022, however we maintained the Emo brand for our retail network as these were integral parts of local communities across Ireland. In 2023 we acquired Alternative Energy Ireland and that business operates under that name for the same reasons – it is one of Irelands longest serving solar brands and is well respected in the industry.

“Most of our business operations are through the Certa brand, but we still operate both the Emo and AEI names for their respective industries.”

Q: Horizon scanning – what’s coming up for Certa – anything new and exciting you can tell us about?

“We’ve got plenty of exciting news on the horizon. I can’t reveal all but we’ll certainly be continuing to grow the renewables side of our business and we’ll be continuing to grow our nationwide team who are the backbone of our expanding business.

Q: Tell me about your career to date?

“I’m originally from Dublin, living in Cork now for over a decade.  I have spent time in Galway and New Jersey earlier in my career. I studied Hotel Management in Galway RTC followed by a Masters in Marketing in the UCD Smurfit School of Business.

“Following my studies I began my career in media sales.  I enjoyed some challenging senior commercial roles in UTV, The Star Newspaper, Today FM and more recently as CEO of Cork’s RedFM for over 10 years.

Q: What business ethos inspires you – how does this carry through to your day-to-day work?

“One of Certa’s core values is One Team.  I’m a big advocate for collaboration with colleagues, customers and all stakeholders to ensure we arrive at the best possible solutions in all situations.  One of the key inspirations for me is working with motivated and talented people, we have an abundance of such people here in Certa.”

Q:Tell me a bit about Diarmuid O’Leary the person – any interests/hobbies etc you’d like to share.

“I’m married to Elaine Shields and we have three daughters Cara, Erica and Kate. It’s a busy house with many commitments almost every night of the week.  Outside of work, I’m a big sports enthusiast – I enjoy following all Irish rugby teams and coaching with the under 10’s girls team in Nemo Rangers, Cork.  I’m also a keen cyclist.  I find getting out on the bike is a great way to clear the head and stay active. I also love to cook at home and, whenever possible, enjoy eating out with family.

Q: Closing comments – is there anything you’d like included in the interview not covered above. You will of course get to see the editorial and page layouts for sign-off before the magazine goes out.

“This a very exciting time to be involved in the energy industry in Ireland and around the world.  There are many opportunities to explore and Certa continue to work hard to ensure we are the forefront of this innovative sector.”

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The huge increase in the cost of doing business in convenience retail was the key driver of RGDATA campaigning activity in 2024 with weekly interactions with Government and regulators on the huge increased burdens they were putting on hard pressed family owned essential shops. RGDATA delegations led by President Colin Fee and Directors Padraig Broderick, Annie Timothy, Rachel Twomey and Leona Pender, with support from individual members who travelled from all over the country, made passionate representations to Ministers, Public Servants, and Government and Opposition TDs and Senators.

In what was a first for RGDATA , we took to the streets and supported an SME Day of Protest march through Dublin city centre finishing up outside Leinster House . There impassioned SME business owners from retail and hospitality including RGDATA Director Padraig Broderick, were invited on stage by MC Ivan Yeats. They made strong pleas to the Government to address the crippling costs, make a meaningful PRSI intervention and reduce VAT on food service.

“We are an award winning supermarket in the centre of Croom – yet the future looks bleak,”  Padraig told the crowd. He got a great cheer when he said that he had recently extended his shop into the empty bank building next store – the bank that had tried to close him down during the previous recession.

Budget 2025 & Election 2024

RGDATA developed 7 Asks for Budget 2025 and we did an Election 2025 campaign highlighting the necessary interventions that the new Government needed to keep viable local independent shops and supermarkets at the heart of vibrant communities.

RGDATA sought assurances from the political parties about supporting local independent shops and after the election we ensured that many of these issues were included in the Programme for Government. The next challenge is to make sure that the promises about supporting SME businesses are delivered on and the commitments made in the Programme for Government become a reality.

RGDATA’s nominee to the Upper House, Senator Barry Ward was elected a Fine Gael TD in the DunLaoghaire Rathdown constituency leaving an option open to nominate anew candidate to contest the 2025 Seanad election. RGDATA nominated outgoing Fianna Fail Senator Mary Fitzpatrick for a seat on the Industrial & Commercial Panel.  Mary spent January travelling the highways and byways to get votes from Councillors across the country and was elected. She will be a strong voice for family owned shops in the Seanad and in the Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party.

Retail Crime

The daily challenges posed to shop owners and their families and staff by increasing violent and aggressive perpetrators of retail crimes was another significant campaigning issue for RGDATA.

A significant meeting with the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Retail at which RGDATA , the other retail trade organisations and individual shop owners told the Ministers and Garda representatives about the daily reality of dealing with retail crime and voiced suggestions about how to tackle it. In a positive move most of those suggestions are now in the Programme for Government agreed by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and a group of Independents. 2025 will see that campaign to tackle retail crime continue and we must ensure that all the promises made by Ministers Helen McEntee and Emer Higgins are now delivered by the new Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and the new Retail Minister Alan Dillon.

RGDATA’s Annual Crime Survey 2024 also got a lot of coverage but the depressing statistics continue to reveal that more action is needed to deal with this vital issue for the safety and security of our shops, the people working in them and the customers supporting them.

Deposit Return Scheme

2024 also saw Ireland launching it’s a deposit and return scheme for PET bottles and aluminium cans. Independent retailers were at the coalface – investing in Reverse Vending Machines and introducing customers to a whole new way of recycling their beverage containers.

Much time and effort was put in by shop owners and their staff dealing with malfunctioning RVMs, a transition period where barcodes and Re-Turn logos were not always present, emptying, cleaning and re-loading RVMs and dealing with frustrated customers.

As the scheme reached its first birthday on February 1 2025, Re-Turn announced that over 1 billion containers have been returned and recycled.

In quarter 1 2025 the Retail Handling Fee is being reviewed and RGDATA has two representatives on the Re-Turn Retailer Forum and we still hold the position of representative of the non-producer retailers on the Board of DRSI.

A delegation comprising RGDATA members from the Minister’s constituency led by RGDATA Board Director and Super Valu retailer, Rachel Twomey, highlighted the additional cost implications of the increased National Minimum Wage

Looking ahead to 2025

As the new Government, albeit looking very similar to the old one, gets its feet under the table there are already a few pressing issues that need to be addressed.

Business Costs

The ink wasn’t dry on the party manifesto promises to tackle costs for small businesses when the then Minister for Health signed new regulations adding €1,800 annual licence fees for shops that sell tobacco and vape products. There has been no consultation on this massive increase and no SME test to check if it is reasonable, necessary and affordable. RGDATA has made representations to Enterprise Minister Dara Burke and Retail Minister Alan Dillon. The Programme for Government promises to tackle SME business costs with a new forum and RGDATA is seeking for this to get up and running and for the SME test to be applied to these all other licence and fee costs.

Retail Crime

RGDATA will be pushing here for the promises made by both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to tackle retail crime to become a reality. This includes a new Taskforce on Retail Crime and commitments to explore fixed penalty notices for shoplifting and Anti-Social Behaviour, a compensation package for victims of retail crime and a specific crime of violence against retail workers. The changes to the Defamation laws have also been revived and EGDATA will be seeking amendments to the Bill so that it works for shop owners and staff working in shops.

Insurance Costs

Despite all the hard work by RGDATA and the Alliance for Insurance Reform throughout 2024 the depressing outcome continues to be stubbornly high premiums. There has been no discernible budge from the insurance companies despite all the reforms impacting on claims, pay outs and costs. To add salt to the wound the Judicial Council came out in December recommending a 17% increase in personal injury awards.

RGDATA will be working together with all the other SME businesses to do everything we can to persuade Government not to deliver on the Judicial Council’s recommendation. The AIR insurance costs survey is currently live and we will be encouraging members to fill it in so we have strong data to work with.

Retail Planning & Vibrant Town Centres

RGDATA will continue to be the only trade association that actively engages in the planning process and we will be keeping a close watch on any proposed changes to planning laws that might impact on the Retail Planning Guidelines and the Town Centre First policy. The Programme for Government reiterates the commitment to Town Centre First and promises some new schemes relating to dereliction and vacancy and living over the shop.

Garvey’s SuperValu

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Navigating Challenges in the Forecourt Industry: Rising Costs, Policy Changes, and Crime

The forecourt industry in the UK is currently navigating through a turbulent period marked by escalating operational costs, significant policy changes, and an increase in crime. These challenges have a profound impact on family-run businesses, which form the backbone of this sector.

Rising Costs and Changes in National Insurance and National Living Wage

The recent changes in National Insurance (NI) rates and the National Living Wage (NLW) are putting additional financial pressure on forecourt operators. The increase in NI contributions, alongside the rise in NLW, means businesses must now manage higher payroll expenses. In response to these economic pressures, many forecourt owners are turning to innovative solutions. Investing in car washing machinery, particularly standalone jet washes has become a popular strategy to bolster profits during these tough times in fuel and food retailing. Moreover, the installation of solar panels at many forecourts is proving to be a forward-thinking move to slash energy bills, thereby offering some relief from the rising operational costs .

Business Property Relief and Inheritance Tax

One of the significant fiscal concerns for family-run forecourt businesses is the Business Property Relief on Inheritance Tax. The potential changes could drastically affect investment capabilities: Family forecourt outlets might need to reconsider their investment strategies to accommodate this new financial burden.

There’s a risk that some filling stations might be sold off, while others might lack the funds to continue operations, potentially leading to closures. The reduction in the number of filling stations could have detrimental effects on both the economy and the UK’s energy resilience. Consequently, the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has actively encouraged its members to engage directly with political figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and local MPs, urging a policy review. The PRA has provided a template letter to simplify this communication, highlighting the dire consequences of these changes on family businesses. In addition, the PRA is working with Family Business UK who have garnered together over 30 other trade associations to lobby for a policy reversal .

Combatting Crime in Forecourts

Crime, particularly fuel theft and in-store incidents, has become a significant cost, with an estimated annual impact exceeding £2 billion according to the most recent report from the Confederation of British Industry British Retail Consortium. In response, PRA members are adopting advanced technologies like body cams, facial recognition cameras and headsets to deter and manage crime more effectively. The PRA is also actively participating in a review of the Retail Crime Strategic Plan to provide minimum standards and improvements across the  Reporting of Crime, Reporting of Intelligence and Dealing with Vulnerable persons. When managing matters of crime or incidents concerning fuel theft, following discussions with former Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Mark Harper and subsequent advice from the Home Office, companies that provide a service to recover monies associated with drive offs and no means to pay will soon have online access to the DVLA database, provided they meet certain criteria outlined by the Police. This improvement should streamline the process of recovering losses from fuel theft, with implementation expected in Q1.

The 2030 ICE Ban and Charging Infrastructure

While the PRA supports the move towards decarbonization of transport, there’s a strong call for a strategic, cooperative approach between the government and industry. The current inheritance tax changes could limit the available funds for family businesses to invest in essential EV charging infrastructure, which, although viable with a payback period of 8-10 years, requires significant upfront investment.

Advocacy for Car Wash Licensing

The PRAs’ sister not-for-profit trade association, the Car Wash Association ( CWA) is pushing for a national licensing scheme for car washes to ensure quality and fairness in the industry. Collaborations with Nottingham Trent University (NTU) are underway, with NTU preparing to submit proposals for a national licensing scheme. Additionally, the CWA will be participating in webinars with LabourList to discuss these proposals, emphasizing the need for regulation to protect both consumers and legitimate businesses.

Conclusion

The forecourt industry stands at a crossroads, facing a complex array of challenges that require thoughtful policy responses, community engagement and innovative business practices. The survival and growth of family-run forecourt businesses hinges on how well they can adapt to these changes while advocating for a supportive legislative environment. The concerted efforts in lobbying, investment in technology and strategic business planning are pivotal in ensuring that these businesses not only survive but thrive in the evolving economic landscape.

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