Waitomo fuel comes to Foxton

In this view taken on Sunday, July 19th, currently the southern-most Waitomo fuel stop in New Zealand at Foxton's Tasman Fish & Cafe on SH1, which, when opened on Friday, July 10th, 2015, saw an end to the Foxton fuel price monopoly that Foxton Mobil has enjoyed since the closure of the pumps at Foxton BP on July 18th, 2008.

The opening of Foxton's new fuel facility saw Mobil, about a kilometre north on SH1, drop their price from $2.04c a litre for 91 octane to $1.93c in order to compete with the $1.89c that was the Waitomo opening price. (Foxton Mobil offer a 4c a litre discount with a New World fuel voucher which is currently seeing Foxton New World issued 4c discount fuel vouchers for even minimum purchases.)

The Waitomo fuel stop opening also saw Foxton fuel prices better that than in nearby Levin and Palmerston North and plans are to add another four pumps to the new Waitomo fuel outlet.

In the background is the deMolen Dutch windmill.

 

CHEAP FUEL AGAIN IN FOXTON

17/07/2015

Almost seven years to the day the fuel pumps at the service station at the south end of Foxton were closed, petrol is once again flowing onsite.

On July 18 2008, the local BP station officially switched off its pumps, leaving the town with just one fuel outlet at the north end of Foxton.

Kevin Gunther took over the site two and a half years ago and opened Tasman Fish and Cafe. He later added a motor vehicle workshop and a laundromat, which were joined last Friday by Waitomo Foxton, a pay-at-the-pump site offering petrol and diesel.

"We're open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we're offering the cheapest fuel prices around. We've got petrol at $1.89 per litre and diesel at $1.15," said Kevin.

"There's plenty of truck parking and we've got great food and friendly service. People are also coming in to use the laundromat so it's great to be able to offer the fuel as well."

The site is already proving popular, with locals and visitors alike lining up throughout the day for fuel. Kevin says when the pumps started operating last Friday people were filling cans as well as their cars, mistakenly believing the low prices were an opening day special.

"We started pumping at 3.30pm and it's been amazing really. By Saturday afternoon we had to order our second lot of fuel, way earlier than we would have thought. People can't believe the low prices and it's great for the whole town, especially for businesses."

Carole Fafeita of Foxton was filling her car on Tuesday and said the low prices were excellent.

"It was a monopoly here so it's about time someone came in and gave us some competition. I told my husband he had to fill up here too," she said.

Kevin says when he first began looking into the possibility of adding fuel pumps to the site he had never heard of Waitomo branded petrol.

"They weren't the first people I talked with but once I found them there was no need to talk to anyone else. I'd do it all again with them. They are kiwi and family owned, just like my business."

Waitomo was founded in 1947 by Desmond Ormsby of Te Kuiti. Before the transport and oil industries in New Zealand became deregulated, Waitomo operated exclusively in the Waitomo District.

The company has now grown to become one of the country's largest independent suppliers of petroleum products.

Following a period of joint ownership between the Ormsby family and Mobil Oil New Zealand, Waitomo reverted back to 100 per cent kiwi family ownership in 2003.

Within the next two weeks Kevin is planning an official opening and says there will be some giveaways. - Horowhenua Chronicle, July 17, 2015

 

PETROL PUMPS OFF AS FOXTON BP WINDS UP

22/07/2008

Foxton shoppers who cherish their discount fuel vouchers will now have to travel at least 20km to cash them in.

On Friday [18 July 2008] the local BP petrol station officially switched off its pumps in preparation for shutting-up shop for good.

The closure is a blow to residents who buy their groceries at the local New World, which offers a discount at BP on its dockets.

Local New World owner-operator George Samson had not been warned the BP was closing, and said he was "shocked" by the news, and disappointed for his customers.

The discount vouchers were important to a lot of people, but now they would be worthless because people would have to travel to Levin or Palmerston North to use them, he said.

"Now my customers are going to say they're a waste of time, because I have to spend money to try and save money."

But he did not expect there to be any long-term effects on his business.

Jean and Stuart Marshall have owned the BP for 20 years and had about 10 employees, who were a mix of full and part-time.

While the pumps were off, the shop was remaining open until remaining stock was cleared, Mrs Marshall said yesterday.

She would not say why they had decided to close.

"I'd prefer not to make any comments."

Soaring fuel costs had made life hard though, she said.

"Petrol pricing is an issue that affects everybody, and margins are almost non-existent for independent operators. It makes it very difficult."

An armed robbery in May had played a role in the decision, but was not the deciding factor, she said.

"We've had several [robberies], and it's all part of the mix."

It was sad having to shut the doors. "Twenty-years of our life here, and we basically built it from a little garage."

They were yet to decide what they would do with the land, and she would not say what would happen to any remaining fuel or the tanks.

BP New Zealand spokeswoman Diana Stretch said they were in negotiations with the Marshalls about the issue.

Mobil Foxton owner Bob Wilkinson said tiny margins and a growing number of drive-offs meant it was a hard business to be now.

They had been marginally busier since the closure, but he was sad to see the competition closing.

"I'd rather see both of us thriving, but in the present climate it's very difficult to do that." - Manawatu Standard

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