 The current logo, in use since 1996 | |
| Company type | Unlimited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fuel |
| Founded | 22 March 1960 |
| Area served | Ireland |
| Products | Petrochemical |
| Owner | Irving Oil |
| Website | www |
Top Oil (formally Tedcastles Oil Products Unlimited Company) is an Irish-based petrol company founded in 1960 which trades under the brand name "Top". Before a rebranding in 1998, the company variously traded as "Tedcastles Oil Products", "Tedcastles Oil", "Tedcastles" and "T.O.P.", and prior to that as "Tedcastle McCormick". Top Oil is a medium-sized Irish distributor of petroleum fuels.
History
The business was founded by Robert Tedcastle as a coal merchant in 1800, later diversifying in the heating business and entering the petroleum business. It was subsequently renamed as Tedcastle and McCormick, then Tedcastle, McCormick and Co. Ltd., and then Tedcastles Oil Products.
In 1926, the business became an associate company of the Coast Lines group. It established branches in Clonmel, Cork, Foynes, Limerick, Newcastle West and Waterford. In 1950, it returned to private ownership, with John P Reihill as chair. In the 1950s and early 1960s, it opened branches in Belfast, Dundalk and Sligo.
In the late 20th century, the business variously traded as "Tedcastles Oil Products", "Tedcastles Oil", "Tedcastles" and "T.O.P.". In 1998, it underwent a rebrand as "Top Oil" with a green colour scheme that has changed little since.
The Tedcastle Group was acquired by Irving Oil of Canada in 2018.
Petrol stations
The company operates petrol stations mainly outside Dublin. It has over 205 locations nationwide ( 25 of them are company owned). In 2010, Top Oil acquired a fuel company in Galway called Sweeney Oil, out of receivership for a nominal purchase price . Top oil have grown in recent years through vulture purchasing of distressed oil companies from bank receivership, examples including Tougher Oil in Kildare and Sweeney Oil in Galway. In late 2010, Top Oil's 6 separate sites were finally opened along the Galway motorway, which are all in alliance with Applegreen. In 2012, the brand was changed to Top Oil – Fueling Ireland and in 2016, the company re-entered the forecourt shop sector with the acquisition of 10 company owned locations.
Convenience stores
From 1998 to 2004, the company operated a convenience store chain on a franchise basis with ADM Londis. These stores were known as "Londis Topshop". This allowed forecourts to become franchisees of both Londis and Top at once. However it also had high street stores in competition with ADM Londis itself. In 2004, the stores were acquired by ADM and rebranded to simply Londis.
In 2018, Top Oil works in partnership with a number of retailers across their network including SPAR, Mace and Daybreak.
Competition
Top Oil's main competition comes from Maxol, Certa, Texaco and Circle K.
References
- Byrne, Anne (24 April 2001). "Getting it all together at the petrol station's forecourt". The Irish Times. No. p 7.
- O'Keeffe, Barry (1 August 1997). "Tedcastles spending £1.6m to get on TOP". The Irish Times. No. p 29.
- "Tedcastle McCormick plans £750,000 oil complex in Dublin". The Irish Times. No. p 16. 1 September 1972.
- "Potez plant will mean work for 700 people". The Irish Times. No. pp 5-6. 17 January 1963.
- "Potez plant will mean work for 700 people". The Irish Times. No. pp 5-6. 17 January 1963.
- O'Keeffe, Barry (1 August 1997). "Tedcastles spending £1.6m to get on TOP". The Irish Times. No. p 29.
- "Canada's Irving Oil buys Tedcastle group for undisclosed sum". Irish Times. 2018-08-21. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
- Keena, Colm (30 July 1998). "Energy firm in Londis alliance". The Irish Times. No. p 17.
- Byrne, Anne (24 April 2001). "Getting it all together at the petrol station's forecourt". The Irish Times. No. p 7.
- McCall, Barry (11 September 2001). "Ten years that have changed Ireland's shopping culture". The Irish Times. No. p 33.
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