Blackburn’s EG On The Move will now employ more than 4,500 staff nationally following the acquisition of Applegreen UK.

The takeover of Applegreen UK’s 98 sites with around 40 foodservice concessions is a major boost for the company which will now own and operate a total of 151 petrol stations nationally.

The company, which is run by Zuber Issa (pictured above), will own a further 209 foodservice concessions offering customers access to more than 200 fast EV charging ports.

The firm said the integrated network will create ‘a retail powerhouse in the independent petrol forecourt sector’.

As part of this transaction, EG On The Move has also acquired the Applegreen fuel card business.

EG On The Move, CEO, Zuber Issa said “We look forward to integrating the Applegreen UK business into EG On The Move.

This acquisition is a natural fit, and enables EG On The Move to continue to redefine convenience retail and mobility for our customers, with a strong focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability.”

He added: “Also, the 1,142 staff members working at the 98 sites are expected to transfer to EG On The Move as part of the transaction. On completion, our EG OTM family will grow to over 4, 500 colleagues.

Customers and stakeholders can expect a seamless transition. Updates on site facilities, retail initiatives, and brand partnerships will be shared in the coming months.

Our network is poised to deliver enhanced customer experiences that reflect the growing welfare and retail demands of those who travel for work, social reasons or live in the surrounding area.”

COO Applegreen Europe and CEO Welcome Break, John Diviney, said “Applegreen has successfully completed the sale of its UK petrol forecourt business to EG On The Move.

Following completion of this transaction, Applegreen remains committed to the UK market through our majority stake in Motorway Services Area (MSA) operator Welcome Break, and our growing EV charging business.”

He added: “Welcome Break employs more than 6,000 people throughout the UK, where it operates 59 sites, including 34 MSAs, and 31 hotels. We have a strong pipeline of new MSAs to develop, and recently opened our new £55 million state-of-the-art location at Junction 33 of the M1 at Rotherham.”

EG On The Move were professionally advised and supported throughout this transaction by Cleary Gottlieb, Freeths, Rabobank, PWC, Alvarez & Marsal.

Zuber stepped down from his executive leadership capacity at EG Group, becoming a non-executive director, as his brother Mohsin became chief executive.

Together the brothers built EG Group into a multi-billion-pound business headquartered in their hometown.