Sainsbury’s sells eight filling stations to fuel operator Go

Sainsbury’s is to sell its remaining Northern Ireland petrol stations to NI-based Go.

With the sale of its eight filling stations, this means the supermarket retailer is to exit the fuel market in Northern Ireland.

It is understood the forecourts will be transferred on a site-by-site basis and is expected to take place over the next six to 12 months.

The affected sites are located in Bangor, Ballymena, Coleraine, West Belfast, Forestside, Sprucefield, Dungannon and Holywood Exchange.

The retailer said that there would be no redundancies as a result of the deal, with Sainsbury’s staff being transferred to roles at nearby stores.

Forecourt business, Go is operated by Cookstown-based LCC Group. It is understood it plans to invest in modernising the eight sites and will convert them into pay-at-pump, self-service stations.

Sainsbury’s director of petrol and kiosk, Caroline Holroyde said the deal represented a “major opportunity to upgrade and modernise” the respective sites and said they would continue to operate as usual while the transfer was prepared.

“We believe this deal represents the best possible outcome for our petrol station estate in Northern Ireland,” added Caroline Holroyde.

“We’re looking forward to realising the benefits it represents, while at the same time bringing more of the best Sainsbury’s has to offer to Northern Ireland as we invest in opening two exciting new supermarkets here.”