Ken Kay, owner and CEO of The Kay Group, said, "Our relationship with Valero goes back to 2010 when they first started supplying our head office site, Kay Grimshaw Park in Blackburn, followed a few months later by Kay Primrose Garage in Clitheroe. We've always been impressed with the professionalism and support we've received from our account manager, and over the years have developed an excellent relationship with Valero, who have been very supportive of our business activities."
He went on to say, “We pride ourselves on customer service and a great deal of emphasis is placed on staff training to ensure this is maintained to a high standard across all of our sites. This includes training and engagement of Texaco's Star Rewards loyalty scheme, which has proved to be a vital aspect of our retail business footprint and has subsequently led to great success with customer retention."
Andrew Cox, Valero's director sales and marketing, said, “The Kay Group are a forward thinking and ambitious business and we're proud that we continue to be their fuel supplier of choice after so many years. Their commitment to providing a superior customer experience contributes to their ongoing success and we're delighted to be working alongside them to support their business goals."
The Kay Group operate their service stations in East Lancashire, Yorkshire and the Midlands, with the goal to expand and develop new sites in locations away from the North West. All their sites offer all grades of Texaco fuel including Supreme, a branded Londis shop and many offer well known fast food brand outlets such as Greggs and Subway.
Texaco customers in the UK now have the Texaco app to help them to save on fuel when they fill up. The app allows customers to never miss out on Star Rewards Points by adding a digital Star Rewards card to their phone's wallet.
The app also allows members to exchange Points for digital Texaco vouchers, which can be used to purchase fuel at Texaco service stations. Star Rewards members are now able to simply 'tap' their phone to earn Points and easily spend at Texaco.
And as an incentive, new members can earn 200 Star Rewards Points when they download and register via the app.
Andrew Cox, Director Sales and Marketing, said, “The new app will make Star Rewards so much easier for customers – simply tap to earn Points and spend digital Texaco vouchers. The app is ahead of the competition in this area, no one else gives such flexibility and control. Customers can access their Star Rewards account from their phone, get information and offers from Star Rewards and use their Points without any fuss.
“We're really excited about the app and the functions it offers. And as a bonus, we're offering new customers 200 points when they download and use it."
The Texaco app can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Play Store. Members can then use the app or their digital Star Rewards card to earn Points and spend digital Texaco vouchers. Existing cards and fobs will continue to work as normal. Members can also donate their Points to charities including Age UK, the Trussell Trust, Action for Children and Fareshare and all donations will be matched by Star Rewards.
Customers can easily add their Star Rewards card to the Wallet app on iPhone. With a simple tap of their iPhone or Apple Watch, customers earn points anytime they check out and pay with Apple Pay. There's no need to swipe a separate physical Star Rewards card, enter a phone number, or scan a QR code. Their card will now automatically pop up in Wallet every time they use Apple Pay.
Valero employees in the UK and Ireland have selected their Charities of the Year for 2021. These will be the main recipients of fundraising efforts during the year, though employees will still support events and other fundraising activities for a wide range of charities.
Throughout February, Canada Square-based employees voted from a long list of candidate charities and those chosen are all long-standing supported ones. They are: the British Heart Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support and Richard House Children's Hospice. The company has supported Richard House in east London since it opened in 2000.
Alongside these, volunteering and other specific fundraising events will continue to support many of the usual charities, including Mudchute Farm, East End Community Foundation and Riding for the Disabled. Pembroke has reaffirmed its commitment to improving mental health by continuing with the DPJ Foundation as its Charity of the Year for 2021. The foundation was set up in 2016 in response to the death of Daniel Picton-Jones to address the lack of support for those suffering from poor mental health in rural communities and in agriculture.
Speaking last year, Refinery Manager Ed Tomp, said, “The DPJ Foundation is a very worthy charity and it is vital that we all recognise the importance of mental health. The pandemic has shone a light on these issues and Pembroke refinery is delighted to help continue to raise awareness."
In Dublin, Valero made a donation of €808 at the end of January 2021 to mark its ongoing support to the Temple Street Hospital, now renamed the Children's Health Foundation.
Joan Fahey, Interim Corporate Partnerships Lead, explains. “The Children's Health Foundation is the new unified children's healthcare charity, which exists to raise funds to support the vital, life-saving work that takes place every minute of every day in Children's Health Ireland (CHI) hospitals and urgent care centres."
Formerly Temple Street Foundation and Children's Medical and Research Foundation (CMRF) Crumlin, Children's Health Foundation raises funds for where it is needed most across CHI – from funding essential equipment and patient and parental supports to making new services and ground-breaking paediatric research possible.
Ascona Group, one of the UK's fastest-growing forecourt operators, has extended its partnership with Valero Energy to supply fuel at an additional ten sites this year, seven of which will start to be supplied this February.
TexacoValero and Ascona began their relationship in May 2018 when Ascona acquired Parker Drive Service Station, an existing Texaco-branded site. Since then, their relationship has gone from strength to strength with this latest increase bringing the total number of Texaco-branded Ascona sites to 23.
Darren Briggs, managing director at Ascona Group, said, “Since we started our journey to expand our operations, Ascona has relied on strong, flexible and collaborative relationships with our suppliers. Valero is a best-in-class producer and its expertise and assistance has been vital for us as we moved from a single forecourt in 2011 to 50 across the UK today. We look forward to building on this partnership as we continue on our growth story."
Simon Fawkes, national accounts manager for Valero, said, “It's amazing what Darren and his team have achieved in such a short period of time, acquiring a total of 50 sites and showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. We're delighted that 23 of these sites will be supplied by Valero under the Texaco brand and with the offer of a competitive fuel supply package we hope to add to these numbers in the future."
Converting sites and their day-to-day management is never without its challenges, especially in the current environment, but the close alliance and collaborative teamwork has enabled the two companies to help make things happen quickly and within very tight timeframes.
Fawkes said, “What's been most important is the great working relationship we have developed with Darren and his team. I hold our relationship with Ascona in very high regard and have come to know Darren and his team for their determination and dynamism in business, whilst still maintaining a down-to-earth and fun company culture. A combination that has undoubtedly led to their success."
It has been a busy and exciting time for Ascona, who recently announced the acquisition of its 50th site in the UK, growing from one in 2011. The majority of these new sites have been acquired in the last three years. But they have no intention of slowing down. As well as looking to add more sites to their portfolio, they immediately invest to improve on their offering to the local community, which in turn drives up footfall, sales and volumes.
One of the new Texaco-branded sites, opening later this year, is Bush Hill Service Station, soon to be renamed Green Garage Service Station, in Pembrokeshire. This new 5,000 sq ft Ascona development will be the company's flagship site and will feature Ascona's trademark deluxe jet wash, Instawash laundrette and the Ascona fish bar, as well as 3,500 sq ft Nisa-branded convenience store.
Andrew Cox, Valero's director, sales and marketing, said, “Darren and his team are fantastic retailers to work with; forward thinking, innovative and always aiming to exceed their customer expectations. We are proud to supply 23 of the Ascona sites and to support them with their continued growth."
Fuel retailer Usman Patel recently celebrated 40 years of selling Texaco branded fuel at his three service stations in Greater Manchester. Usman owns the Mabco Group sites: Caroline Service Station, Lancashire Hill Service Station and Reddish Service Station. All the sites are located within 10 miles of each other in Stockport and have supplied fuel under the Texaco brand since Usman first became a tenant in 1980.
Usman said, “The time feels like it has flown by, but it's been 40 years since our first Texaco site and I have never felt the need to change supplier. The deals have always been transparent and competitive and they offer a great loyalty programme for our customers too." He went on to say, “However, the main reason I've stayed with Texaco for so long is because of the people, who I've found to be honest, trustworthy and ready to help in any way. I know where I am with Texaco. “
