Shell has confirmed that it has exchanged contracts for the sale of 27 service stations with six dealer groups.

As previously reported by Forecourt Trader Top 50 Indies HKS, Golden Cross Group, Synergie Holdings and Spring Petroleum have all been successful bidders together with Valli Forecourts. Chedgold is the other successful bidder.

HKS is buying seven sites with Golden Cross and Spring Petroleum taking six each and the remainder divided between the other three companies. All of them are currently Shell customers except Valli, which 14 sites supplied by BP and Jet.

The sale of these 27 sites completes the sell-off of 185 UK service stations to dealer groups, announced in April this year. The service stations will retain the Shell brand for at least the first five years following the sale.

David Moss, Shell’s retail general manager, North Europe, said: “It’s important to us that dealer groups of all sizes can grow with Shell, so I’m pleased that as part of this process we’ve extended our relationship with Chedgold; Golden Cross; HKS; Spring Petroleum; and Synergie Holdings and also welcome Valli Forecourts to the brand. These dealers share an ambition to grow and invest in their sites and deliver the high standards of safety and service that customers know us for. ”

The announcement follows the strategic decision to reduce the number of Shell company-owned service stations in the UK to around 550 and expand the dealer network. In April, Shell exchanged contracts with Motor Fuel Group (MFG) and Euro Garages for the other 158 service stations.