Leading independent forecourt retailer Ascona Group has signed a new five-year contract with Co-op Wholesale, extending a partnership that began in 2020.
The agreement will see the wholesaler continue to supply grocery products to all 62 Ascona forecourts across the UK, including its own label range.
Founded in 2011 by Darren Briggs, Ascona has grown from two sites in Pembrokeshire to become the UK’s seventh largest independent forecourt operator, serving more than 300,000 customers every week.
The group has been recognised among The Sunday Times 100 fastest growing companies and is shortlisted four times at the upcoming Forecourt Trader Awards.
Ascona has invested heavily in its estate, including a £3m redevelopment of Machynlleth Service Station in North Wales in 2023 - its largest single investment in Wales to date. More recently, the group more expanded with acquisitions at Kirkburn Service Station in East Yorkshire and Ridgeway Service Station in East Sussex.
Alongside its growth, Ascona has donated £50,000 to local causes through Co-op Wholesale’s Making a Difference Locally charity.
Briggs said: “Ensuring our forecourts provide our customers and the local communities in which we operate with a first-class roadside retail destination is at the heart of what we do at Ascona, which is why we choose to partner with operators like Co-op Wholesale.
“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Co-op Wholesale, who are one of our key suppliers to our forecourts. Today, all of our 62 forecourts are supplied with grocery and Co-op branded products by Co-op Wholesale. Our partnership has gone from strength to strength over the years, and we look forward to continuing our work together to serve our customers.”
Paul Webster, sales and partnerships director at Co-op Wholesale, said: “Ascona has been one of the standout growth stories in the forecourt sector over the last decade, and we’re delighted to extend our partnership for a further five years. Our shared focus on quality, value and community makes this a natural collaboration, and we look forward to supporting Ascona’s ambitious plans as they continue to expand and invest across the UK.”
No comments yet