EXTENSIVE growth in Europe is fuelling expansion of the workforce for ground-breaking Newry firm, Morgan Fuels.
The firm, which opened Ireland's first bunkering site in 1981, has announced the creation of 100 new jobs, mostly in tele-sales, over the next five years.
A recruitment drive will be focused on counties Louth, Meath, Down and Armagh and has been prompted by extensive growth in the European fuel card market, according to managing director Hugh Morgan.
"These are very exciting times for Morgan Fuels and we are looking forward to watching our team develop and grow over the coming years," he said.
"Each of our new employees will be given first class training on site from our experienced team of managers. This expansion is not only key in the growth of our company, but will drive the growth in the local economy as well."
In the past three years, Morgan Fuels has seen significant development within the European fuel card market, with fuel card marketing representatives now based in Germany, Hungary and Romania.
After breaking into the fuel industry in the early eighties, the firm launched Morgan Fuel Card Services in the mid-1990s, setting up an extensive fuel card network across Europe - which now spans 15 countries - before developing a number of 24/7 cash-free retail stations and authorisation centre.
Providing fuel card services, bulk fuels, lubricants and capital equipment to commercial, agricultural, retail and domestic customers, Morgan Fuels posted a turnover of £50.2 million for the year ended March 31, 2015.
"As Morgan Fuels has been growing significantly overseas in Europe, it seemed only fitting to begin to develop their own team at the head office on the Dublin Road, Newry," Mr Morgan said.
However, in its last set of accounts, the company pointed to decreased sales compared to the previous period caused by "significant reductions" in fuel prices in the UK throughout the year.
"The fuel card market in the UK remains competitive and margins continue to be tight," the directors said, "however, market conditions appear to be improving."
The recruitment drive will be driven by recruitment agency, Servisource, Dundalk.
