Maxol has opened the first dedicated ultra rapid EV hub in Northern Ireland at the newly expanded Kinnegar Service Station in Holywood.

The post Maxol opens NI’s first dedicated ultra-rapid EV charging hub appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

The business is owned by Blackburn-based petrol forecourts and retail operator EG Group, whose founders, brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa, also own a stake in the Yorkshire-based Asda supermarket chain.

More than 100 self-serve coffee kiosks will launch in Asda by the end of January, while an extra four kiosks will launch at EG service stations before the end of the year.

LEON currently has coffee kiosks in 65 of EG’s convenience stores and 33 Asda stores

Its roll-out plans reflect the growing popularity of its organic and Fairtrade coffee and how busy consumers increasingly want it on the move.

Glenn Edwards, managing director of LEON, said: “Today’s announcement marks another milestone in our expansion programme – and shows how Leon’s coffee is fast becoming a favourite with coffee drinkers across the UK. We continue to invest and innovate, with the intention to make Leon more accessible to more customers.”

Last year the Issa brothers acquired Leon for £100 million.

The post LEON to add more forecourt outlets with Asda expansion deal appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

The move comes as the firm looks toward a future where petrol and diesel sales make up an increasingly smaller portion of its revenue.

Retail floorspace of forecourts in the Republic is currently limited to 100 sqm while there is no such cap in Northern Ireland.

The 100 sqm limit can only be breached in exceptional circumstances when permitted by a local council.

Maxol chief executive Brian Donaldson said the relevant planning laws haven’t been reviewed since 2012 and insisted they are “very much out of date”.

Maxol, owned by the McMullan family, has 242 outlets across the island of Ireland, including 112 that are company-owned.

Last year, its profit before exceptional items jumped 57% to €27m, as it continued to benefit from the easing of pandemic restrictions and surging numbers of staycationers across the island. The group’s profit after tax was €22.8m. The group posted a €17.8m profit in 2019.

Mr Donaldson said that Maxol’s forecourts in Northern Ireland are much bigger, giving it more scope in its retail offering.

The group, more than a century old, traditionally focuses on sites in areas close to residential and business areas, rather than on motorways or major roads.

“What we have seen since September is that the double-digit decline has reduced to a single-digit decline,” he said. “Volumes have not fully recovered back to 2019 levels. It is edging closer after a difficult start. That’s probably no surprise because of hybrid working.

“It’s also no surprise because fuel behaviour patterns have changed with the price of fuel. People did and have cut back. But I think what we’ve benefited from is the large business customer sector that we serve through our fuel cards business.”

Maxol is now planning to roll out two electric vehicle charging hubs, in Ballycoolin in Dublin and Newbridge in Co Kildare, as it continues to probe the best service model for consumers.

A dedicated Maxol electric vehicle hub will in December at Kinnegar in Co Down.

The post Maxol wants forecourt size restrictions relaxed appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

That’s the grim finding from RGDATA, which recently reported that energy costs increases are crippling the sector after it su8rveyed  its 3,500 retail members.

While some retailers have been able to limit the impact of the cost increases through affinity schemes, many of these schemes are now expiring and new elevated rates will apply. Some retailers have also been able to reduce consumption through retrofitting stores, but the costs associated with this are prohibitive for smaller shops.

Retailers have called for immediate government action to stem rising energy costs and for interim emergency measures to assist with meeting the cost of the energy hikes.

“Of 1,200 shops surveyed, all reported increases in energy costs, with most reporting a doubling in electricity charges with some experiencing increases of up to 400%.

70% of the respondents were with Electric Ireland, with the remainder supplied by Energia, SSE, Pinergy, and Panda, and all respondents reported that they have very little scope to reduce energy costs by reducing usage given the demands of refrigeration, heat and light in shops.

All respondents believe that the energy market has failed and that the Government needs to intervene.

The vast majority of retailers surveyed believe that the energy companies are manipulating the energy crisis to maximise profits and prices. 80% of retailers said that the Government needs to introduce price caps on energy prices, with 70% calling for energy credits to be introduced on bills. 40% called for the reintroduction of the wage subsidy scheme to assist businesses struggling to manage costs as a consequence of energy price hikes.

Retailers indicated that the energy crisis would push them to take drastic actions, with 80% citing reduction of overheads including staff costs; 30% considering increasing prices and 30% warning they may cease trading if energy costs continue at the current levels.

One Co Mayo retailer said this crisis was going to do more damage to small business than the pandemic ever did, while another retailer in Co Roscommon described crying on receiving the latest bill which had increased by 300% since January.

Another in Co Mayo said: “We are a small country convenience store and feel that price increases will push our customers to the discounters. I will have to lay off staff to cover the electricity bill or consider closing our deli for the winter.”

A Co Sligo retailer commented: “We are devastated. We survived Covid and this is worse.  We can’t trade out of this position.”

RGDATA Director General, Tara Buckley said: “The rates of increased electricity prices being imposed on food retailers are shocking and cannot be sustained. These shops, which are significant local employers and are a core part of the local community infrastructure throughout Ireland, cannot sustain electricity price increases of up to 400% in some instances.”

Red more in the latest edition of Ireland’s Forecourt and Convenience Retailer. 

The post Irish retailers warn of ‘unsustainable’ energy price hikes appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.

Conor and Eimear Moran and Jonathan Mailey from the store picked up the award at a gala dinner at the Crowne Plaza Belfast.

Independently judged by Spotcheck, the awards were judged to exacting standards over a three-month period.

The judges commented: “This busy forecourt was exceptionally clean and tidy and provided a great range of services.  Staff were well informed, professional, and efficient creating good rapport with their customers.”

Now in their 26th year, the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards reward excellence, recognise achievement, raise industry standards, and reward entrepreneurial spirit and are Northern Ireland’s most prestigious retail awards.

Commenting on the awards, Paddy Murney, retail sales director for Centra said: “Congratulations to our retail partners the Moran family who, along with their team at Moran’s Centra Coleraine, have been honoured at the Neighbourhood Retail Awards. This win is testament to the great value, customer service and extensive offering across the store and I am delighted the store team has been recognised for its commitment to serving the local community with the best in modern convenience retailing.”

The post Moran’s Centra Coleraine scoops Forecourt of Year at Neighbourhood Retailer Awards appeared first on Ireland's Forecourt & Convenience Retailer.