Essar, which produces 16% the UK’s road transport fuels from its Stanlow refinery, has agreed a deal with MPK Garages to rebrand the outlets in Stoke-on-Trent and Cheadle

Mersey oil firm Essar Oil UK is further growing its UK retail network with two new outlets in the North of England.

Essar, which produces 16% the UK’s road transport fuels from its Stanlow refinery on the banks of the Mersey, has agreed a deal with MPK Garages to rebrand the outlets in Stoke-on-Trent and Cheadle as Essar sites. Previously they carried the Texaco brand.

Both sites were unveiled with official openings featuring ‘Lucky Pump’ promotions.  During this period, ten customers at each site were chosen at random to win £10 off the cost of their fuel. The new openings take the total number of Essar forecourts to 71.

Essar territory manager, Aaron Moore, said: “We are confident motorists will love the bright and modern appearance of the award winning Essar brand, and our opening promotions are very popular.

“We are a growing brand and although relatively new to the retail sector, our Stanlow manufacturing complex has been producing high quality fuels for over 60 years. We currently produce 16% of the UK’s road transport fuels and supply many of the major oil companies in the UK, together with leading hypermarkets.”

Essar entered the UK retail market with the opening of its first branded forecourt in November 2015 at Coalville in Leicestershire. The company plans to open its first company owned flagship site opposite the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port in 2019.

Wayne Harrand, head of retail at MPK, said: “As a UK manufacturer, Essar is well placed to service the changing energy needs of those people visiting our forecourts. We have been delighted with the customer reaction at Essar branded sites and this, together with our rollout of Morrisons Daily and Safeway Daily across the portfolio, are driving footfall, growing basket size and changing the demographic of our consumer base.”