Esso has secured fuel supply deals with the UK’s two largest dealer groups in a move that the company says will boost the total number of Esso-branded retail sites by around 20% to more than 1,100 service stations.

At the same time the company has announced the first moves in its adoption of a branded wholesale model in the UK, with agreements signed for Scotland, northern England and North Wales.

Fuel supply deals have been agreed with Rontec Investments LLP (100+ sites) and Malthurst (85+ sites).

A spokesman said the agreements reflected Esso’s continued commitment to the UK fuels market.

Meanwhile Esso and its subsidiary ROC UK Limited have reached agreements with Euro Garages Limited for the sale of 43 company-owned service stations in North England and North Wales; and with Greenergy Fuels Limited for the sale of 92 contracts with dealers in Scotland, North England and North Wales. The sale of the dealer contracts is subject to review by the dealers affected.

“ExxonMobil will continue to serve the retail market in Scotland, North England and North Wales through Euro Garages and Greenergy as branded wholesalers,” confirmed an Esso spokesman. “Under the agreements, Euro Garages and Greenergy will purchase Esso fuels at the terminal rack and deliver to Esso-branded service stations in their network.”

He said the transition to the branded wholesaler model would not affect other ExxonMobil activities in the UK.

Dr. Karen Dickens, UK Fuels marketing director, said: “These latest announcements represent the first steps in our move to a new retail model, in which we provide Esso-branded fuel and Mobil-branded lubricants to the retail market via branded wholesalers. Our agreements with Rontec and MRH increase our presence in the UK to more than 1,100 retail sites, while the agreements with Greenergy and Euro Garages will secure supplies of high quality Esso branded fuels and Mobil lubricants to sites in Scotland, northern England and north Wales for years to come.”