Sainsbury's is exiting the fuel market in Northern Ireland and selling eight service stations to Go Forecourts, further focusing its operations on food distribution. The transaction involves all the facilities operated by the British group in the region and is part of its strategy to strengthen its core business, accompanied by new investments in its supermarket network.
The eight stations involved are located in Bangor, Ballymena, Coleraine, Dungannon, West Belfast, Forestside, Sprucefield, and Holywood Exchange. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but the transfer of operations to the new owner will take place gradually over the next six to twelve months.
Go Forecourts, which currently operates 26 service stations in Northern Ireland and approximately ten in the Republic of Ireland, plans to modernize the acquired facilities by converting them into self-service vending machines, equipped with payment systems at the pump. The acquisition will therefore allow the company to expand its regional presence and strengthen its automation-based operating model.
Sainsbury's has clarified that the transaction will not result in layoffs, as all service station employees will be relocated to nearby stores. This solution will safeguard jobs during the gradual transition of the facilities to the new management.
However, Sainsbury's exit from the fuel distribution sector in Northern Ireland does not represent a reduction in its commercial presence in the region. The group will continue to operate its 12 supermarkets and has already planned to open two more stores, both in properties previously occupied by the Homebase chain.
The new facilities will be located at the Great Northern Retail Park in Omagh and the Crescent Link Retail Park in Derry/Londonderry, helping to expand the grocery network and strengthen the brand's presence in the Northern Ireland market.
Caroline Holroyde, Sainsbury's Head of Fuel and Kiosks, said the deal represents the best possible solution for the group's service station network in Northern Ireland, while highlighting the opportunities presented by the new business investment.
The sale therefore confirms Sainsbury's desire to focus resources and attention on food distribution, entrusting the management of its fuel stations to a specialized operator while simultaneously continuing to expand its supermarket network.
