Zuber Issa invests in iconic oil brand Duckhams – is Castrol next?
Asda billionaire Zuber Issa backs revival of iconic British oil brand Duckhams
Zuber Issa, the billionaire entrepreneur who co-led the £6.8 billion acquisition of Asda in 2021, is investing millions in a new venture — the revival of motor oil brand Duckhams.
Now, Forecourt Trader has reported that the billionaire businessman is interested in also buying up Castrol.
Issa’s investment in Duckhams, made independently of his brother Mohsin, is set to value Duckhams at approximately £50 million and will help propel the brand into new international markets while expanding its presence in the UK. The company, based in Bolton and employing around 100 people, is preparing for a five-year global expansion plan targeting 50 markets, up from the current 24.
After being acquired by BP in 1969, the brand was heavily promoted throughout the 1970s and 1980s. However, by 2000, BP began consolidating its motor oil products under the Castrol name, and Duckhams disappeared from most markets.
ince its initial return to market in 2017, Duckhams has rebuilt a presence in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Denmark, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
With Issa’s backing, Duckhams now plans to expand through a franchising model, working with local partners to blend and distribute oils, reducing overheads while leveraging regional expertise.
The strategy will be supported by increased advertising and retail distribution, with Duckhams oils set to be stocked in EG On The Move, Issa’s petrol forecourts chain. While Zuber Issa sold his stake in Asda to TDR Capital in 2024, he remains a major player in UK retail and fuel distribution.
