FORECOURT and convenience retailer Maxol is to invest more than £2 million in its retail network in the north this year and has also submitted a series of planning applications for further investment and development across the business in 2022/23.
The investments will focus on expanding in-store retail space, increasing grocery and convenience lines, and introducing the Spar Daily Deli food offering to its stores as Maxol continues its transition from primarily a fuel brand to a convenience food service brand.
The family-owned Maxol business, which last year marked its 100th birthday. will expand availability of its premium fuel to six more sites including Townparks in Antrim, Eglinton, A26 Services at Tannaghmore, Glenabbey, Belvoir and Kinnegar.
And as vehicle electrification gathers momentum, Maxol is working to ensure its service stations have the infrastructure in place to support greener motoring in the future, and it plans to invest in further dedicated electric vehicle (EV) chargers over the next three years.
Maxol also has five planning applications lodged in the first quarter of this year to develop a number of existing sites including Kinnegar, Downpatrick, Braid River, Fortwilliam and Edenderry.
Group chief executive Brian Donaldson said: "As we begin the path to recovery, we are committed to playing our part in supporting the economic recovery and building for the future.
"We are investing in our estate infrastructure and our product offering sourced from local suppliers to ensure we can provide the best quality, choice and value to our customers when they walk through our doors each day.
"Our service stations are run by local people for local people, employing local people; that has been our business model for more than 100 years and we look forward to seeing these investments deliver for the local communities that we serve in the coming years."
Full details of the investments planned include:
:: Kinnegar: 100 sq m extension to main store to expand the range of grocery and convenience lines, installing a new Spar Daily Deli, creating 25 new car parking spaces and installing a dedicated EV charging hub.
:: A26 Services at Tannaghmore: change to the store layout to increase grocery and convenience lines, also installing a new Spar Daily Deli and introducing a new menu to Abrakebabra.
:: Antrim Road: refurbishment, adding a new Spar Daily deli and nine new car parking spaces.
