Martin and Geoffrey Agnew, the brothers behind Northern Ireland’s foremost forecourt, convenience and wholesale business Henderson Group, have each been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
The siblings joined the family firm in 1986 and have jointly run the business since 1998, after taking over from their father John Agnew. Henderson was established by their great-grandfather in 1897 as a market stall selling farm produce.
The business, based in Mallusk near Belfast, runs around 90 forecourts under the Spar and Eurospar brands, making it the biggest independent operator in the province.
Last year, it completed the installation of BP Pulse electric vehicle charging points at its forecourts.
In addition, it owns the Vivo, Vivoxtra and Vivo Essentials convenience franchises in Northern Ireland, and operates a foodservice business distributing across the entire island of Ireland. It has more than 4,000 employees across the group.
Martin and Geoffrey Agnew said they were accepting the honours on behalf of their colleagues, retailers, trade customers and suppliers, adding: “Without their contribution, the business would not have grown in the way it has over the last 40 years.”
