Forecourt Focus: News

Circle K open new franchise in Garryspillane

CIRCLE K have officially opened the latest addition to their franchise network, Circle K Hinchy’s, a newly redeveloped location, in Garryspillane, Co. Limerick. Hinchy’s Garage was founded in 1979 as a vehicle repair business and added a petrol forecourt in 1986. This redevelopment adds a new shop and forecourt facilities to the premises, including superfast electric vehicle chargers, carwash facilities and customer toilets. Circle K Hinchy’s will create 15 new jobs across full and part-time positions in the local community.

“We are absolutely delighted to be launching another Circle K franchise location in Ireland and would like to welcome the entire team at Hinchy’s to the Circle K family,” noted Derek Nolan, Senior Director of Retail Operations for Dealer and Franchise, Circle K Ireland. “We are privileged to partner with outstanding independent retail partners across the country and we are really looking forward to working closely with Jim Hinchy and his team, as well as supporting them in serving the local community in Garryspillane.”

Jim Hinchy said: “The Circle K franchise is a perfect fit with our longterm strategy for future expansion and development.”

Staff members Xhulio Myftart, Kathy Staunton, Yvonne Duffy (manager), Chloe Duffy and Shauna Fadian are pictured celebrating after it was announced that the Maxol Service Station on the Newport Road in Westport, Co. Mayo, sold a winning EuroMillions Plus ticket worth €500,000.

Westport forecourt sells €500k EuroMillions Plus ticket

THE Maxol Service Station on the Newport Road, in Westport, Co. Mayo, sold the winning EuroMillions Plus ticket worth €500,000 for the draw on Tuesday, June 21. The winning quick-pick ticket was sold on the day of the draw and the winner, who wishes to keep their win private, spoke of their shock when they realised they’d won the half million-euro prize: “I’m completely gobsmacked - it’s only really starting to sink in now!”

Ice ice baby: Circle K celebrates summer food

WITH summer in full swing and temperatures on the rise, new research from Circle K reveals Ireland’s plans for the summer months, from holidays and festivals to food choices.

The research (which saw 1,000 Irish adults surveyed by 3Gem on behalf of Circle K, May 2022) was conducted to celebrate Circle K’s summer food offering, which includes three new limited-edition burgers, refreshing K-Freeze iced drinks to quench the summer thirst and Circle K’s premium ice cream selection, which is now available at even more locations nationwide.

While 16% of the nation will staycation this summer, over a tenth (11%) will do the double and holiday both at home and abroad. Dublin tops the polls as the favourite place to visit in Ireland during the summer (24%), followed by Galway (13%) and Carlow (6%).

For those taking to the Irish roads, over half (51%) say they will stop at a forecourt to satisfy their food and beverage needs along their journey. Hungry road users looking for delectable dishes will rejoice at the news that Circle K have launched three exciting new burgers to their in-store deli range. The mouth-watering limitededition burgers joining the existing deli range are a Beef Burger with Beer Battered Onion Rings, Streaky Bacon and Cheese, a Korean BBQ Chicken Fillet Burger, and a Beef Burger with Streaky Bacon and Cheese. An ice-cold soft drink (31%) is the nation’s beverage of choice in the summer, followed by water (24%), iced coffee (11%) and a frozen beverage (9%) like Circle K’s K-Freeze, which comes in delicious flavours such as Coca-Cola, Sour Apple, Fanta Blue Raspberry and Fanta Strawberry.

The research shows that we are a nation of ice cream lovers, as a whopping 74% admit to enjoying the ice-cold sweet treat at least once a week during summer. The classic 99 cone tops the poll as the nation’s favourite (32%), followed by a Magnum (15%), an ice cream sundae (9%) and a Cornetto (8%). This summer, Circle K have extended their premium ice cream range to even more locations nationwide, excluding Circle K Express. Customers will find a huge amount of choice available including soft serve ice cream, sundaes, 99s and scoop ice cream.

Forecourt Focus: News Tralee school wins €10,000 biodiversity garden from Applegreen

SPA National School in Tralee, Co. Kerry, have been named the overall winner of Applegreen’s BioDive sticker collection competition, in association with the education organisation Biodiversity in Schools. Spa National School were the lucky winners of a biodiversity garden worth €10,000 by completing a classroom poster with stickers of native Irish animals, insects and plant life.

“It’s been a lot of fun and incredibly rewarding for everyone who’s been involved,” said Clare Killeen, Applegreen’s head of ESG. “More than 1,000 schools registered to take part, which is incredible, and really shows the level of interest in Irish biodiversity.”

Applegreen’s BioDive campaign is designed to build awareness among primary school children, their families and local communities about the importance of biodiversity in Ireland. The initiative featured 120 collectible stickers to help students recognise distinct native flora and fauna.

“Our entire school community worked together to collect all 120 BioDive stickers from our local Applegreen stores,” said Peter Linehan, school principal. “We are thrilled to have won and can’t wait to get started on our biodiversity garden. The pupils have some great design ideas for the garden and we are all very excited to welcome some new species to our school grounds as we continue our biodiversity support and education.”

Pictured are Clare Killen, Applegreen Head of ESG; Peter Linehan, Principal, Spa National School, Tralee; Éanna Ní Lamhna, BioDive Ambassador; and Alex Biriuc, Applegreen Store Manager, Tralee; with pupils Garreth Lovett (2nd class), Jessica Rian (4th class) and Chloe Stephenson (3rd class).

Pictured are (l-r): Jamie Topham, Assistant Store Manager, Grange; Mihaela Andaluzia Bejenariu, Sales Market Manager; Marie Gallagher, Store Manager; Viesturs Astics, Regional Director of Retail Operations.

Circle K opens service station in Grange, Co. Sligo

CIRCLE K have opened the newest service station in their nationwide company owned network, Circle K Grange, Co. Sligo. The station officially opened on July 8, with a wide range of special offers available in store on the day and throughout July.

The filling station opened initially in 2000, and with the redevelopment will now offer a wide range of superb products and services, including Circle K’s deli menu, Circle K Coffee, the K-Freeze iced drink range, a wide selection of freshly baked goods as well as delicious soft serve ice cream. The new store will have a new deli and food on-the-go offerings for those on the move.

The new store will use the SafePay end to end closed cash system to enhance levels of security and create a safer environment for customers and the 22 employees at Circle K Grange. With SafePay meaning cash never needs to be handled manually, it also benefits staff by significantly reducing the level of administrative activity associated with traditional cash handling.

Circle K’s next generation miles fuel will be also available to customers at the new Grange location, as well as an EV charging station and a carwash opening at the end of July.

“We are proud to officially add Circle K Grange to our company owned network today, as we continue to cater for the needs of customers in rural areas across Ireland,” noted Paul Dixon, Senior Director of Retail Sales and Operations, Circle K Ireland. “We are excited to offer our premium range of products to the people of Grange, Co. Sligo, and road users travelling the area; from our superior quality next generation miles fuel to our Circle K Coffee, specially brewed for the Irish market. I wish all the best to our colleagues and store manager Marie Gallagher, as they continue to offer high quality service to the community of Grange.”