Maxol announces major investment programme for Northern Ireland
The Maxol Group has announced its full year trading figures for 2025, with Group CEO Brian Donaldson confirming a strong trading performance, despite a year characterised by inflationary pressures.
The family-owned business, with its roots in County Down, finished the year in a solid financial position, with no net bank debt and a substantial cash surplus.
2025 Group turnover was £663 million, an increase of 1.1% on 2024 (£656 million)
2025 Group profit before tax, before exceptionals, was £33.9 million, compared with £27.8 million in 2024
Brian Donaldson confirmed that growth and innovation remain central to the Group’s investment strategy. In Northern Ireland, Maxol is bringing an even sharper focus to its food range and convenience offer and continuing to invest to further strengthen its position as the region’s leading family-owned forecourt and convenience retailer.
“Maxol’s transformation over the past decade has fundamentally changed the role of the traditional local service station, with food, coffee, convenience retail and car washing now not only central to the company’s growth strategy, but also our approach to customer service,” said Donaldson.
“The Maxol service station of today is almost unrecognisable from that of just 10 years ago.”
FOCUS ON FOOD
Investment in food and convenience retail continues to be a cornerstone of Maxol’s strategy.
“For our customers, shopping is about choice, quality and convenience and we have built our food strategy around these three pillars,” added Donaldson. “It’s a hugely competitive market and we work hard to identify and provide what our customers want, giving them even more reasons to choose Maxol.”
This is reflected in several developments across the business this year, from opening the Group’s first store with Greggs bakery chain to the introduction of Maxol Market Deli. Already available in Maxol stores in the Republic of Ireland, Market Deli is being trialled in Northern Ireland for the first time at Maxol Eglinton. Its elevated look and feel are designed to bring consistency across the Maxol estate, while the menu reflects local tastes, with traditional hot meals such as lasagne, chicken curry and stews alongside custom-made sandwiches, wraps, salads and hot breakfast options.
“I cannot overstate how important food is to our business,” said Donaldson. “It sets us apart from competitors and plays a key role in how we build customer loyalty, shaping how we develop and deliver our own food concepts and the way in which we work with trusted partners and support local producers. Technology is also key to enhancing the customer experience, helping to make every visit as seamless as possible.”
Delivering a stronger food offer goes hand in hand with investment in the stores themselves, with several redevelopments across Northern Ireland completed or underway in 2026, while £2.5 million in strategic investments has been committed over the last 12 months at Scarva Road Banbridge, Bryansburn Bangor, Glenabbey and Eglinton.
