The MD of Top Indie Euro Garages has been named Ernst & Young’s Young Entrepreneur Of The Year (Northern Region). Judges at last week’s ceremony highlighted how Zuber Issa had built Blackburn-based Euro Garages from scratch, doubling the business over the last three years.
The business has a turnover of £230 million, 500 staff, and operates 70 sites across the North and Midlands. After a successful re-financing earlier this year, the company - number five in the Forecourt Trader Top 50 Indies list for 2008 - plans to double the number of sites through a series of acquisitions.
The awards were judged by an independent panel of business leaders, including Simon Nixon, MD of Moneysupermarket.com Group. As well as selling fuel for oil companies like BP and Shell, many of the company’s sites include Spar branded convenience retail stores as well as franchised Subway sandwich outlets.
Issa said: “I’m just one of 500 people who are making a tremendous contribution to the business every single day. With that many motivated, positive people behind you, success comes a lot easier - so I’d like to dedicate this award to them. The business has got an exciting two years ahead as we look for more acquisitions – so watch this space!”
Simon Allport, Manchester senior partner at Ernst & Young, said: “Zuber has brought in partners from franchised food or consumer outlets to help grow site turnover, at the same time quickly integrating acquisitions into the company. Zuber has ambitious plans for the future, aiming to acquire sites and build more partnerships to boost turnover.”
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