Karan Retail has purchased its furthest north petrol station, at Thurso in the Scottish Highlands – the most northerly town on the British mainland.
Property agent Brogran Grier of Graham + Sibbald says that he was expecting to sell the forecourt, which was on his books for two years, to a purchaser wanting to live close by to enjoy a rural lifestyle.
But he says the Top 50 Indie saw its potential: “The remote location allows Karan Retail to acquire a site at a less competitive multiplier,” Grier says. And he adds that with the operator having its eyes on another forecourt in the area, it will be able to introduce cost efficiencies across the two sites.
The purchase of Bridgend Garage, a 1.25mlpa site, is from family-owned fuel supplier Gleaner, which Grier says wants to invest in its nine distribution depots.
It brings Karan Retail to 56 sites, with six now in the Highlands. Earlier this year the operator entered Forecourt Trader’s top 10 ranking for independent forecourt operators in the UK, having expanded from 42 forecourts in the Top 50 Indies report in 2025.
The small plot at Bridgend Garage, which includes a two-pump petrol station, air and vac facilities, and a 1,000sq ft unbranded shop, could be reconfigured to include a jet wash facility or a shop extension, says Grier.
With the forecourt being on the popular North Coast 500 tourist route, which loops around part of Scotland’s northern coastline, it is a convenient stop for tourists, with 200,000 motorhomes making the trip a year, says Grier.
The site also does a good trade in premium fuel, says Grier. “There is also a greater sales bias towards super unleaded, due to the draw of high performance and classic cars,” he explains. And the site benefits from custom from Orkney, with cars travelling via the ferry from Scrabster passing the site.
Future prospects for voulume growth for fuel look positive too as the locality undergoes investment, points out Grier:
“Thurso is witnessing a lot of interest for renewable energy schemes with plans for wind, solar, biomethane and battery plant schemes in place – these will replace Dounreay Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently undergoing an £8bn decommissioning project that will last until roughly 2078.
“There is a lot of development planned for the area, which will benefit all businesses and job creation.”
