Maxol Downpatrick re-opens following £1.5m investment

Maxol has opened the doors to its newly developed service station Maxol Downpatrick on New Bridge Street, following an extensive £.5m redevelopment.

The latest development by Northern Ireland’s leading family-owned forecourt and convenience retailer, revealed a new Spar store with extensive grocery offer including fresh fruit & veg, ready meals and grab ’n’ go sandwiches. A new ’Delish Deli’ with a self-serve chicken bar has also been opened, as well as two new Frozen Coca Cola and Frozen Fanta machines, while the popular Barista Bar coffee on the go has been expanded offering two units for improved speed of service.

On the forecourt, Maxol’s Premium fuel range has been introduced to enable customers to make greener choices and car parking facilities have been increased from six to 19 spaces providing greater capacity, especially at peak times during the day. Pay-at-pump technology has been installed at all eight pumps, to make refuelling quicker and more convenient for motorists.

Maxol says its innovative and sustainable forecourt design has been fully implemented at Downpatrick.The strategy won the ’Highly Commended’ Oil Company Initiative Award at last year’s Forecourt Trader Awards. From the construction through to the site’s ongoing operations, Maxol has worked with Henderson Group and energy consultants to install a host of cutting-edge technologies that reduce the site’s existing carbon footprint. These measures include the use of low-energy CO2 refrigeration; LED lighting systems; use of automatic timers in-store and external lighting systems to reduce energy use.

Brian Donaldson, chief executive officer of The Maxol Group, said: “We are committed to investing in our service station network to make Maxol a more convenience-led destination that delivers for the local community.

“The development at Maxol Downpatrick has been transformational so that our customers can shop locally for all their daily needs in a modern, welcoming and sustainable environment. With more car parking, a new self-serve check-out and self-serve chicken bar at the new Delish Deli we want to make sure customers can pop in and out with ease throughout the day.

“With larger premises providing even more quality, value and choice for customers, we’re delighted to officially open the doors to the Downpatrick community.”

Patrick Doody, sales and marketing director at Henderson Group which owns the Spar brand in Northern Ireland added: “We are dedicated to working with our retail partners to extend the Spar brand across Northern Ireland and bring value to shoppers’ doorsteps. We understand the value of time, locality, community engagement and deals on the shelves, which we are delivering to local communities with our independent retailers. Maxol Downpatrick is a fantastic development with innovative design and efficiency at its core, and we wish the team all the success with the business.”

Donaldson adds: “Maxol Downpatrick is operated by local licensee Pamela Turnbull and her team and I wish them every success as they continue to deliver a forecourt and convenience store that is at the heart of the community.”