Norway faces major changes in the fuel retailing industry in 2016

Norway's fuel retailing industry faces a major overhaul with three leading gas station operators making significant changes of ownership, identity and products.

The country´s large Statoil network - 330 gas stations - will be converted into the Circle K brand in late spring, with parent company Couche-Tard making an effort to unify the majority of its gas station assets under one single brand.

Norwegian drivers will not only witness the disappearance of the Statoil brand from its roads, as two other major fuel operators will be exchanging assets. On the one hand, gas station chain Deli de Luca, owned by NorgesGruppen, will take over Esso´s 107 “On the run” stores after signing a 10-year “alliance”, reported Dagens Næringsliv.

The other major operation finds Finish company St1 Nordic Oy taking over Shell´s 420 gas stations in Norway. A part of the network will remain under the Shell brand, and another will switch to St1, according to Norwegian news source newsinenglish.no.

This deal will further strengthen St1's position as a Nordic energy company. The company´s expanding business will provide products and services through more than 1,500 retail stations in Finland, Sweden and Norway.