Forecourt operator Applegreen is leading the charge against plans by Supermac’s owner Pat McDonagh to build a €10m motorway plaza on the Limerick to Galway motorway.

Irish forecourt operator Applegreen is continuing to target expansion opportunities in the UK and the US after agreeing terms to buy a majority stake in British motorway services station operator Welcome Break for close to €362m.

Irish forecourt retailer Applegreen is targeting further US growth opportunities after signing a long-term agreement to lease 43 petrol filling stations in Florida.

Applegreen will likely continue its rapid pace of buying up forecourts in Ireland, the UK and the US as it posted a 24% rise in earnings that was helped by better margins despite rising fuel prices.

Irish forecourt retailer, Applegreen, recorded a 40% increase in pre-tax profits and revenue of €1.2bn last year, according to accounts just filed to the Companies Office.

Shares fell more than 2% in Applegreen as the fuel and forecourt operator raised almost €47m in a placing of more than eight million shares — around 10% of the firm’s issued prior share capital prior to the placing.

Shares in fuel retailer Applegreen rose more that 4% yesterday as it reported a 20% increase in profits for the year to the end of June, compared to the same period last year.

Fuel forecourt retailer Applegreen has said Ireland and Britain remain its key focus despite acquiring 42 new petrol stations and Burger King outlets in the US, a move that significantly ramps up its US operations.

Fuel forecourt retailer Applegreen has said its pipeline of petrol filling stations is strong as it outlined expansion plans in Ireland, the UK and the US.

Applegreen, the forecourt fuels and food retailer, said it sees no reason to curtail expansion plans because of Brexit, as it plans to open up to 50 new sites in Ireland, the UK and the US this year.

Ireland’s biggest fuel forecourt supplier Topaz has moved to cement its position as market share leader by announcing plans to open a 24-hour motorway service station on the Cork to Dublin motorway.

When it comes to Euromillions, it seems everyone’s a winner.

The Applegreen outlet in Lusk will receive a bonus payment for selling the winning EuroMillions jackpot of more than €88m.

Shares in Applegreen rose as the petrol forecourt retailer said it had not suffered any significant hit in the run up to late June vote by the UK to depart the EU and has no major plans to slow its expansion plans in the North and in Britain.

Applegreen’s plans of expanding its motorway service stop network has received a blow.

Forecourt operator, Applegreen, has moved to get ahead of Supermac’s and be the first to provide a motorway service stop along the M18, connecting Limerick to Gort.

Petrol and food retailer Applegreen said its strategy for steady but non-spectacular expansion is paying off, as it reported a 26% rise in earnings.

The Dromoland Castle Hotel is seeking to block renewed plans by forecourt operator Applegreen to extend its network of motorway service areas into Co Clare.

Applegreen, the Irish petrol forecourt firm which made its stock market debut in June, plans to open a further 10 outlets across Ireland, the UK, and the US by the end of the year as it seeks to tap the strong economic recovery.

Challenger companies are businesses that disrupt existing markets and dare to compete with much larger, incumbent organisations. 

Applegreen, the Irish forecourt fuel supplier, plans to benefit from the “grim” reputation of motorway service stations in Britain as it announced a €70m placing of shares and detailed its expansion plans.

The five-star Dromoland Castle has stopped plans by Applegreen to extend its national network of motorway service areas into Clare.

Tired drivers hoping for a much-needed pitstop at motorway service stations in Cork will have to hang on longer as An Bord Pleanála has shot down the first two applications for such facilities.

Retailers fighting tobacco and fuel smuggling are concerned that gangs here are setting up manufacturing plants to produce illicit cigarettes.