MFG - Initial £40m investment into Morrisons forecourts

Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the market leading independent forecourt operator with over 1,200 sites across Great Britain, is pleased to announce an update following its acquisition of 337 Morrisons petrol forecourts and more than 400 sites across the UK for ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging.

Highlights:

• Initial £40m investment into Morrisons sites between May and October 2024
• MFG will be using this initial investment to upgrade sites across the network, aligning them with MFG’s existing stations. As part of the investment MFG will be:
  • Increasing the range of products and refitting the stores with new equipment to provide:
    • Improved food-to-go offerings for customers
    • To create a truly convenience led retail offering with increased opening hours, alcohol licences where appropriate, and the provision of other services such as the National Lottery
  • The first five sites have been proposed, with work commencing at the start of May 2024
  • Following the completion of the first five sites, MFG will be refitting 15 sites per week until the end of October
  • This is only the start of MFG’s investment in the customer experience, ahead of the full-scale redevelopment of the Morrisons portfolio, which will include valeting centres and the installation of ultra-rapid EV charging hubs
    • MFG is committed to its investment strategy, redeveloping at least the first 100 Morrisons sites in the first five years providing convenience retail, valeting and EV charging to meet the energy transition

MFG has committed significant capital into its initial upgrade of Morrisons sites across the UK with re-development including an increased choice for customers across convenience products and food-to-go offerings. Alongside this investment in convenience retail, MFG will be investing in the forecourt infrastructure to ensure sites comply with the latest Health & Safety regulations and are fit for the future. MFG is proud to retain the Morrisons brand on these sites, with product ranges previously sold remaining available for customers and local communities.

Following this initial investment, MFG will invest in valeting and install Ultra-Rapid EV charging infrastructure across the Morrisons sites. MFG is targeting the installation of 800 Ultra-Rapid 150kW EV chargers, in hubs, within the first five years alone. This level of investment will position MFG as one of the largest and most significant ultra-rapid EV charge point operators in the UK, with a landbank of over 1,300 sites that will be capable of serving and powering millions of customers a week.

Alongside the EV investment at Morrisons sites, MFG will invest to expand and improve the convenience retail proposition, with a focus on enhancing the retail environment, food-to-go and valeting facilities to customers. MFG will grow to become the UK’s number two convenience store operator serving communities across the country.

MFG has a strong track record of investing its profits into its business, as well as delivering returns for its investors. Since the pandemic, MFG has spent millions of pounds on its entire network of convenience retail stores, with a further £50m per year committed to improve its retail, food to go, and valeting offer to the consumer.

William Bannister, CEO, MFG, said:

“We are pleased to announce this initial investment into the re-development of the newly acquired Morrisons sites. This is the start of our wider plans to upgrade all of the Morrisons hubs with services to fit all of our customers evolving needs, including ultra-rapid EV charging infrastructure, food and valeting. Our top priority has always been, and remains our customers and the communities within which our sites are located. Therefore, we are committed to ensuring that our investment enhances the look and feel of the newly owned sites, with MFG working in partnership with the highly respected Morrisons brand.”