With strong financial results behind it, oil distributor and forecourt operator Maxol is putting a “renewed focus” on electric vehicle charging, and an emphasis hot food.
Announcing today a £33.9m pre-tax profit for 2025, up 22% on the year before, and a 1.1% increase in turnover to £663m, the island of Ireland group says that it has enjoyed a “strong trading performance”, despite a year of inflationary pressures.
With electric vehicles now representing more than 18% of the new car market in Northern Ireland, chief executive Brian Donaldson says the company is “reviewing investment in charging infrastructure in line with improving market demand”, as well as trialling an EV mobile charging app.
Since opening Northern Ireland’s first dedicated ultra-rapid EV charging hub at Maxol Kinnegar in Holywood in December 2022, the business says it has been taking a “measured approach” to the development of its charging network.
It is now planning to introduce ultra-rapid EV charging at Cherryvalley and Hazelbank, and says that the new Northern Ireland hubs will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
“We have always recognised that EV charging will be an important part of the future mobility landscape, but our approach has been to invest sensibly and ensure that infrastructure is developed where there is a clear customer need,” says Donaldson.
“With electric vehicle sales on the rise, we will support motorists making the transition to electric vehicles with the further expansion of our charging network in 2027 and 2028.
“The challenges around grid capacity, access to power and planning remain, but there is a clear role for forecourt operators in providing reliable, accessible and convenient charging facilities.”
Another area of focus highlighted by the company is food to go, with its first site, Maxol Auto24 Beechlawn in Dunmurray, to host a Greggs food to go concession, and the launch of its own-brand hot food concept.
Maxol Market Deli is being trialled at Maxol Eglinton in Northern Ireland, after its rollout in the Republic of Ireland. The menu reflects local tastes, says the company, offering traditional hot meals such as lasagne, chicken curry and stews alongside custom-made sandwiches, wraps, salads and hot breakfast options.
“I cannot overstate how important food is to our business,” says Donaldson. “It sets us apart from competitors and plays a key role in how we build customer loyalty, shaping how we develop and deliver our own food concepts and the way in which we work with trusted partners and support local producers.”
The Maxol Eglinton site is undergoing a £450,000 redevelopment which is nearing completion. Its Spar shop is being reconfigured to double frozen food space, and to introduce a new grab and go hot island in front of the deli counter. The forecourt, meanwhile, will benefit from a new WashTec drive through car wash.
Eglinton is one of four outlets to be included in a £2.5m spend on site improvements over the past 12 months. The other sites are:
- Maxol Bryansburn in Bangor West, where a £1.4m investment is underway to extend the shop and to reconfigure the forecourt to introduce additional customer parking, and a new standalone drive through car wash. Work will be complete by February 2027.
- Maxol Glenabbey in Glengormley, where a £225,000 refurbishment includes more space being given to chilled food, and the introduction of a cabinet for pre-packed hot wraps and sandwiches. Outside, the site has been refreshed and the forecourt lighting upgraded to the latest LED specification.
- Maxol Scarva Road, Banbridge, in which a £365,000 investment has expanded the shop, introduced closed-door refrigeration throughout, and updated signage, and canopy.
Donaldson says investment in Maxol forecourts has “fundamentally changed the role of the traditional local service station, with food, coffee, convenience retail and car washing now not only central to the company’s growth strategy, but also our approach to customer service.”
He adds: “The Maxol service station of today is almost unrecognisable from that of just 10 years ago.”
