Essar Oil (UK) has been revealed as the new principal sponsor of this year’s Forecourt Trader Awards the industry’s most prestigious awards programme.

The long-established competition is the showcase for the petrol retailing industry recognising and rewarding those businesses at the leading edge of their profession.

The Forecourt Trader Awards 2019 will be launched next month, and will culminate in a glittering celebration on September 12 at a glamorous new venue Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

Ramsay MacDonald, head of retail at Essar, said: "Essar is delighted to be the principal sponsor of the 2019 Forecourt Trader Awards. This year is shaping up to be a defining one for Essar’s Retail developments in the UK. Having won a Forecourt Trader award for its entry into the retail market in 2016, and sponsored the Community Engagement Award in 2018, what better way for Essar to showcase both our ambition and intent than being the principal sponsor for this year’s event."

He said Essar’s presence had grown exponentially in the last few years, through direct supply in the aviation market, the growth of its marketing businesses and investment in UK infrastructure.