The Maxol Group today announced its full year trading figures for 2025, with Group CEO Brian Donaldson confirming a strong trading performance, despite a year characterised by inflationary pressures. The family-owned business, with its roots in County Down, finished the year in a solid financial position, with no net bank debt and a substantial cash surplus.
- 2025 Group turnover was £663 million, an increase of 1.1% on 2024 (£656 million)
- 2025 Group profit before tax, before exceptionals, was £33.9 million, compared with £27.8 million in 2024
Donaldson confirmed that growth and innovation remain central to the Group’s investment strategy. In Northern Ireland, Maxol is bringing an even sharper focus to its food range and convenience offer and continuing to invest to further strengthen its position as the region’s leading family-owned forecourt and convenience retailer.
“Maxol’s transformation over the past decade has fundamentally changed the role of the traditional local service station, with food, coffee, convenience retail and car washing now not only central to the company’s growth strategy, but also our approach to customer service,” said Donaldson. “The Maxol service station of today is almost unrecognisable from that of just ten years ago.”
FOCUS ON FOOD
Investment in food and convenience retail continues to be a cornerstone of Maxol’s strategy. “For our customers, shopping is about choice, quality and convenience and we have built our food strategy around these three pillars,” said Donaldson. “It’s a hugely competitive market and we work hard to identify and provide what our customers want, giving them even more reasons to choose Maxol.”
This is reflected in several developments across the business this year, from opening the Group’s first store with Greggs bakery chain to the introduction of Maxol Market Deli. Already available in Maxol stores in the Republic of Ireland, Market Deli is being trialled in Northern Ireland for the first time at Maxol Eglinton. Its elevated look and feel are designed to bring consistency across the Maxol estate, while the menu reflects local tastes, with traditional hot meals such as lasagne, chicken curry and stews alongside custom-made sandwiches, wraps, salads and hot breakfast options.
“I cannot overstate how important food is to our business,” said Donaldson. “It sets us apart from competitors and plays a key role in how we build customer loyalty, shaping how we develop and deliver our own food concepts and the way in which we work with trusted partners and support local producers. Technology is also key to enhancing the customer experience, helping to make every visit as seamless as possible.”
Delivering a stronger food offer goes hand in hand with investment in the stores themselves, with several redevelopments across Northern Ireland completed or underway in 2026.
INVESTMENT IN REDEVELOPMENTS
Maxol Bryansburn, Bangor
A £1.4 million investment at Maxol Bryansburn in Bangor West is underway, bringing Maxol’s latest look and feel to the site, with a new shop extension, refit and upgrade. Space currently used for solid fuel storage is being brought into the store, creating a larger, more spacious SPAR shop with an enhanced range of grocery essentials, particularly across ambient and dairy. The Grab and Go is being enlarged and relocated beside the till area. The forecourt is being reconfigured to make space for additional customer parking, and a new standalone drive through car wash will be introduced, featuring the latest WashTec equipment. Work will be complete by February 2027.
Maxol Eglinton, Londonderry
Work on a £450,000 investment at Maxol Eglinton, the first site in Northern Ireland to trial Maxol Market Deli, is nearing completion. While the project will see the shop area increase only marginally, the store will be reconfigured to meet the changing needs of customers and offer the latest Spar concept. There will be an enhanced grocery offer, including a doubling of frozen food provision, which will be relocated to the rear wall. The BARISTA BAR will move to the first aisle and increase to two machines for customer ease and efficiency, alongside two new bakery stands. A new Grab and Go Hot Island will be introduced directly in front of the deli counter, giving customers a fast, flexible option when time is short.
On the forecourt, the site will also benefit from the very latest WashTec drive through car wash technology. It uses advanced biodegradable chemicals designed to protect modern paint finishes, sensors that adapt to each vehicle’s shape and contours, and eco-efficient operation, reflecting Maxol’s forward-looking approach to forecourt services.
Maxol Scarva Road, Banbridge
Maxol invested £365,000 to upgrade and expand the shop floor at Scarva Road under Spar’s latest concept. The store’s sustainable features have also been enhanced with closed-door refrigeration throughout, while new branded signage on the shop fascia, canopy and pricing totem completes its new look and feel.
Maxol Glenabbey, Glengormley
At Maxol Glenabbey in Glengormley, a £225,000 refurbishment has brought the retail area up to Spar’s latest look and feel, with new ceilings, lighting and branding. Chilled capacity has also been increased to improve the presentation of key fresh food categories. The self-serve Chicken Bar has been replaced with a hot cabinet offering a new range of pre-packed hot wraps and sandwiches, improving customer flow at peak times. New doors have been fitted to the refrigeration units to reduce energy consumption. Outside, the site has been refreshed and the forecourt lighting upgraded to the latest LED specification.
Maxol Beechlawn, Dunmurry
The Group’s first store with Greggs, one of the UK’s largest bakery chains, opened at the Maxol Auto24 Beechlawn forecourt in Dunmurry. The new shop offers freshly prepared food and drinks throughout the day, from breakfast and lunch to sweet treats, Fairtrade coffee and evening options. The Dunmurry shop has a modern look and comfortable seating and opens daily from 6:30am to 6:30pm.
In the Republic of Ireland, Maxol completed one of its most significant single-site investments in recent years with the £4.5 million redevelopment of its flagship store at Long Mile Road in Dublin, which now features an expanded food offer including Maxol Deli, Burger King and Dunnes Stores.
A similar food-led approach can be seen at the newly expanded Maxol Dooradoyle in Limerick, which now has a new Burger King restaurant, a larger seating area and an enhanced Maxol Market Deli. Elsewhere, customers at Ballylinan in Laois, Cullies in Cavan and Clarecastle in Clare are benefiting from improved parking, seating and retail space, while Rathnew in Wicklow will be redeveloped to include the next Maxol Recharge ultra-rapid EV charging hub.
The momentum continues, with major refits to come at Dunmore Road in Waterford and Clarecastle in Ennis, and work already underway at four Dublin sites (Adamstown, Coolquay, Spawell and Turvey) to upgrade stores, expand food and retail offerings and concepts, reconfigure forecourts and add customer seating.
Maxol has also grown its network, completing five site acquisitions in 2025 at a cost of £35 million. The new sites at Spawell, Clondalkin and Coolquay in Dublin, Carnmore in Galway and Spa Glen in Mallow, Cork strengthen its nationwide reach.
Brian Donaldson said that the company remains committed to identifying new site opportunities for future growth. “Where we previously developed greenfield sites such as Eglinton some 15 years ago, we’re now looking for opportunities to secure established businesses. So, if you’re thinking of selling, we want to hear from you.”
Renewed focus on EV infrastructure
Maxol is preparing to accelerate investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure as EV adoption in Northern Ireland gathers momentum. Having opened the island of Ireland’s first dedicated ultra-rapid EV charging hub at Maxol Kinnegar in Holywood in December 2022, the company has since taken a measured approach to the development of its charging network, balancing the need to support the transition to lower-emission transport with the commercial realities of EV demand, grid capacity and the pace of technological change.
Maxol’s existing ultra-rapid EV charging hubs and standalone chargers are located at sites in Antrim, Derry/Londonderry, Down, Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Galway, Cork and Wexford. With electric vehicles now representing more than 18%* of the new car market in Northern Ireland, Brian Donaldson said the company is reviewing investment in charging infrastructure in line with improving market demand. The investment includes the development of an EV charging app function, currently being trialled, that will enable customers to pay for charging services from their mobile phone.
The company will now look to further expand its network of ultra-rapid EV charging hubs and stand-alone chargers, with plans for new hubs at Cherryvalley and Hazelbank and in ROI at Rathnew, Wicklow. The new hubs will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
“We have always recognised that EV charging will be an important part of the future mobility landscape, but our approach has been to invest sensibly and ensure that infrastructure is developed where there is a clear customer need,” said Donaldson. “With electric vehicle sales on the rise, we will support motorists making the transition to electric vehicles with the further expansion of our charging network in 2027 and 2028. The challenges around grid capacity, access to power and planning remain, but there is a clear role for forecourt operators in providing reliable, accessible and convenient charging facilities.”
Transforming the customer journey
Maxol has embraced digital innovations to deliver a seamless customer experience including app-based fuel payments, self-service checkouts and automated systems to support fuel pricing and stock replenishment.
Maxol is deploying generative AI across a range of business functions including marketing, human resources, research and business forecasting. Its approach is underpinned by internal policies covering data protection, appropriate use and risk management, as the Group continues to build its understanding of the technology and its practical applications.
“Technology is changing how customers interact with businesses and their expectations around products and services, including how they pay,” said Donaldson. “Where there are opportunities to improve efficiencies and give our colleagues more time to focus on customers, we will embrace them. However, like many other companies, we are still exploring the full potential of AI and believe it is important to approach its adoption responsibly.”
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Ireland is a recognised leader in innovation and excellence in the international forecourt convenience retail sector, with Maxol’s investment in destination-style service stations, food and mobility innovation contributing to this growing reputation. Earlier this year, Maxol Long Mile Road was awarded the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Convenience Store of the Year Europe 2026 Award, which recognises the most innovative and customer-focused convenience retail operators in Europe.
“We have a highly developed sector on the island of Ireland and are seeing increasing interest from global operators who want to understand how the market has evolved,” said Donaldson. “We frequently host delegations from Europe and the US keen to learn from what is being achieved here, demonstrating that Ireland is setting the standards that other markets are looking to emulate.”
2027 OUTLOOK
Against a backdrop of continued economic and regulatory pressures, Donaldson outlined both the opportunities and challenges facing the sector in 2027.
“I would categorise myself as a cautious optimist,” said Donaldson. “Geopolitical uncertainty, volatility and the cost of doing business continue to present challenges with implications for prices, supply chains and both business and consumer confidence. The growing complexity of the regulatory environment adds further, often unnecessary pressure on businesses.”
According to Donaldson, the planning process, both north and south of the border, is one such pressure having an impact on the business by stalling development, delaying investment and impeding progress and growth.
“Delays have consequences beyond our own operations, slowing the creation of jobs and opportunities, and limiting the positive knock-on effects that appropriately sized developments can bring to local communities and economies, as well as other businesses,” he said.
“We have the ambition and drive to grow our business, but we need a more streamlined and less cumbersome planning process to help us unlock both the investment and jobs we’re ready to deliver over the next two years. We understand and respect due process, but planning has become more challenging for our business.”
Maxol has several large-scale projects in Northern Ireland awaiting planning approval, with £14 million earmarked for investment in 2027 and 2028, creating up to 100 jobs. Subject to approval, these will bring fresh, modern, convenience-led forecourt facilities to local communities. Projects in the pipeline include:
At Maxol Auto24 Hazelbank on the Shore Road in Belfast, Maxol is planning its largest redevelopment in Northern Ireland to date. Backed by an investment of over £6 million, the site will become an innovative mobility hub, with a new facility offering convenience and freshly prepared food, and an enlarged, state-of-the-art forecourt with a new EV charging hub and contactless payment facilities.
Completing the offer will be the first American-style conveyor car wash in Maxol’s Northern Ireland estate. Maxol’s sustainable forecourt design will be implemented throughout, including solar panels, low-energy CO2 refrigeration with glass doors to minimise thermal loss, water harvesting and a built-in battery to store excess solar power.
At Maxol Cherryvalley in East Belfast, Maxol has plans to invest £2 million in the award-winning local community hub with the latest SPAR concept in a newly extended store while the forecourt will see the expansion of car parking facilities and a new 4 bay high speed EV charging hub.
At Glendermott Road in Derry/Londonderry, Maxol has submitted plans for a quick service restaurant, an EV charging hub and an American-style conveyor car wash, only the second in Northern Ireland after Hazelbank. Subject to planning consent, work will start in late 2027. Maxol’s sustainable forecourt design will be implemented throughout, with a 100kW solar panel system able to run the car wash during the day and a 200kWh battery to store unused energy.
Notwithstanding the challenging trading environment, Donaldson confirmed that Maxol is in a strong position, built on sustained investment, a clear strategic focus and the strength of its people and retailers, while staying true to the values of this family-owned business rooted in local communities.
“As we head into 2027, we have ambitious plans to build on these foundations, continuing to innovate and invest in a business that meets changing customer needs. Our focus is on bringing mobility, convenience, food and technology together to create service stations that remain relevant and rewarding for customers, while building resilience to deal with the challenges we face. We are building the forecourts of the future, but in many ways, the future is right now.”
Founded in 1920, Maxol is a private, family-owned business owned by the McMullan family. There are 249 Maxol sites in Ireland, 124 of which are company owned (91 in ROI, 33 in NI) with 125 supplied under the Maxol brand and operating as independent dealer-owned sites (53 in ROI, 72 in NI). The Group employs 85 people directly and supports 1,300 jobs indirectly across its network. www.maxol.ie
