Essar Oil UK, which owns and operates the Stanlow oil refinery, has become the newest entrant to the UK fuel retail sector after recently opening its first branded service station, in association with HKS Retail Limited. The site in Coalville, Leicestershire, has undergone a complete corporate re-brand and is the first of many Essar stations planned across the country.
Stanlow refinery has supplied the major retail brands with high quality products for over half a century and currently produces 15% of all transport fuels used in the UK. This is the first time the company has supplied product directly to a site branded under its own company colours. Contracts for other retail sites have already been agreed and these will be rolled out over the coming months.
SB Prasad, Chief Commercial Officer, Retail at Essar Oil UK, commented: “This is a significant step forward and part of our plans to add value to our UK business. Stanlow has a real legacy in terms of refining expertise and a long record of reliable supply to customers and we are now offering this directly on the forecourt in association with our dealers. We have worked hard to deliver a distinctive brand, competitive commercial offering and the best possible customer support. HKS Retail has worked with all the major retail brands, so this is a real sign of their confidence in Essar and we look forward to further strengthening this relationship.”
Bryan Hayes, Commercial Business Manager at Essar Oil UK, explained: “Essar have brought a very clear, honest and straightforward offer to dealers in the UK, supplying quality products from our Stanlow refinery at value prices. We aim to build our network quickly over the coming months and are looking to talk with potential new dealers to see how we can work together to further develop their businesses.”
Shane Thakrar, Chief Executive HKS retail Limited said: "We are pleased to have worked with Essar on their first branded retail site in the UK. We feel the brand has a strong vision and the required resources to deliver a well-planned entry into the market, along with a strong team heading up the brand’s aspirations. The new branding is refreshing and welcoming to consumers, whom have commented favourably on the site’s new look. We look forward to developing our relationship and continuing to grow volumes on the site by working through the various initiatives supported by the Essar team."
The Essar Group already has significant expertise in the retail sector with about 1,700 Essar-branded retail outlets in India, with another ~1,900 under various stages of implementation. The global Essar Group has annual revenues of $35 billion, with operations in 29 countries and over 60,000 employees worldwide.
