FAMILY-owned forecourt and convenience retailer Maxol has begun a major redevelopment and expansion of its Braid River service station in Ballymena and a modernisation of its Marino site near Holywood.
The £2.35 million investment is part of a wider five-year capital investment programme worth £84m being undertaken across the Maxol network to meet the growing demand for convenience-led forecourt services that include coffee, groceries and food-to-go.
Braid River will be Maxol’s innovative and sustainable forecourt design being fully implemented between now and its reopening in October.
This will feature cutting-edge technologies to reduce the site’s existing carbon footprint which include photovoltaic (solar) panels to reduce electrical import requirements; solar efficient glazing; the use of LED lights; low energy Co2 refrigeration systems; exhaust air-heat pump technology to reduce heating loads; and an energy management system to monitor and control the overall energy usage on the site.
A new electric vehicle (EV) charging hub will also be developed and operated under Maxol’s 'Recharge' brand, featuring four 200kw EV charging units.
On the forecourt, car parking facilities will increase to 32 and pay-at-pump technology will be available at two fuel pumps.
Braid River’s current retail space will more than double to 246 sq m, with new features including a Delish Deli and frozen Coca Cola and Fanta slushie machines.
The investment at the Marino service station on the main Belfast to Bangor Road at Cultra will enhance and upgrade many of the current customer facilities both on the forecourt and in-store.
Maxol Group chief executive Brian Donaldson said: “These investments reflect our ambition to develop our service stations with a convenience-led offer that provide our customers with the latest food concepts and convenience goods.
"With Maxol Braid River set to have only the second EV charging hub in our Maxol estate and with the continued roll-out of our sustainable forecourt design, these investments reaffirm our commitment to being a more sustainable forecourt retailer.
"I look forward to the completion of these projects that will ensure we can continue to meet the needs of our customers in modern, vibrant, sustainable and welcoming environments."
