On The Run owners the Shahin family have bought out BP fuel outlets in South Australia

Miles Kemp
May 14, 2013
The Advertiser

Yasser Shahin flanked by staff members Hana, Walid, Hayley, Harry, Michaela and Toni at BP on the Run in Tranmere. Picture: Matt Turner Source: adelaidenow
MOTORISTS have been promised a new petrol discounting war after the biggest deal in the Shahin family’s history resulted in a takeover of all BP fuel outlets in South Australia.

In a deal worth tens of millions of dollars, the family has bought all BP’s 16 metropolitan and 12 regional sites, subject to approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Michaela Webster, the general manager of the family’s company, Peregrine Corporation, said today she was planning a fuel discount deal which would take 8c a litre off the price of unleaded petrol with a $15 purchase from the group’s on-site franchise stores such as Brumby’s, Oporto, Happy Wash, Subway, Smokemart, SA Lotteries and C Coffee.

She said a $10 purchase would provide a 4c/l discount.

“The benefit we have is that people need to buy meals each day and this will allow them to buy fuel on any day not just a shopping day,” Ms Webster said.
The Shahin family, who trace their origin in SA to the migration from Palestine of the late Fred Shahin in 1984, pioneered the teaming of fuel sales with big-name franchise food outlets at its On The Run service stations.

Starting with the purchase of a BP service station in 1984, the Shahins have become one of SA’s most successful family businesses.

On The Run took over the 26 Mobil service stations in 2010, taking the number of On The Run sites to 81.

A director of Peregrine, Yasser Shahin, said the company had since spent $17 million on developing the former Mobil sites and creating 250 new jobs directly.

“Similar plans would be in store for the BP network,” he said.

“Our competitors are typically many times larger than our business but, thanks to the strong support of the Adelaide community, we have been successful by remaining local and unique.

“There are very few champions of SA industry and we hope that the community keeps behind us.”

The deal, which takes Peregrine’s assets to 109 fuel outlets, was backed yesterday by Premier Jay Weatherill, who said Peregrine had a record of investing in SA.