Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

That's a lot of apples Applegreen
ya like them apples

Applegreen service stations are popping up everywhere and it's reaping bigger profits

Results are out for last year and the company has made much more money.

APPLEGREEN SERVICE STATIONS nearly doubled their profits last year despite what the company says are tough conditions in the fuel trade.

The brand’s parent company, Petrogas Global, increased its turnover last year to €804.5 million from €717.3 million in 2012 as it continued a quick rollout of new outlets.

The firm had 75 Irish service stations running at the end of last year, but it has since opened another 17 sites in the Republic.

In the UK, Petrogas runs 53 service stations under the Applegreen brand and it recently established a foothold in the US with 2 new outlets on the east coast within the past 6 months.

Against a “tough trading environment” in both Ireland and the UK, and lower profits on fuel, the company’s pre-tax profit hit €10.1 million – up from €5.8 million the previous year.

Earlier this year the company announced it was recruiting another 360 staff across the country as it launched new outlets in Wicklow, Birdhill in Co Tipperary, Swords in Dublin and Lemybrien in Co Waterford, among other sites.

Low price strategy and burgers helping trade

The company’s operations director, Joe Barrett, said Applegreen had “traded well in tough conditions” thanks to its “low fuel prices always” strategy and food-and-drink partners like Burger King, Subway and Costa Coffee.

Released Things are look Applegreen's Joe Barrett Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

The combination of motorway super service stations, selective greenfield developments on major trunk routes, acquisition and re-branding of smaller sites and the broadening of dealer agreements with independent operators gives us a strong growth platform,” he said.

Retail fuel prices have been falling recently as the glut of oil production, which has led to cheaper commodity prices, begins to filter down through the system.

READ: Global oil has entered a ‘new era’ of oversupply – but don’t expect much relief at the pump >

READ: Irish petrol prices some of the world’s highest >

Your Voice
Readers Comments
36
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.