Fuel depot ‘open for business’ after major investment

A MALTON fuel depot is open for business after owners Rix Petroleum invested more than £400,000 in transforming the York Road site.

The family firm has increased fuel storage capacity at Stones Fuel Oils, based on York Road Industrial Estate, by 50,000 litres and fully refurbished the offices and wider site as part of the investment package.

The company has also ordered two new Scania tankers to be delivered later in the year, to meet a rising fuel demand from rural households, farms and businesses in Malton and surrounding areas.

Rix Petroleum has also dramatically increased the range of products available to customers in the area to include premium fuels, AdBlue, and top-brand greases and lubricants.

Managing director Duncan Lambert said the investment had come about after listening to customers and acting on what they had to say.

As a result, Stones Fuel Oils is now open to the public for the first time, enabling customers to order fuel and buy lubricants and other products from the depot in person.

Lambert said: “We’ve listened to our customers and have invested heavily in changing how we do things.

“We have appointed a new depot manager, Paul Clappison, to oversee the whole operation and Ann-Marie Shaw, from Rillington, has joined the business to manage customer enquiries.

“We’ve also significantly broadened our product range to bring premium fuels such as K+ and Gas Oil Plus on stream, and we now stock AdBlue, anti-freeze, and lubricants from brands such as Q8, Total and Exol.

“Also, for the first time, we’re opening to the public. The business is manned between 8am and 1pm, Monday to Friday, when customers can call in in person, and they can still order by phone any time up until 5pm.”

Rix Petroleum acquired Stones Fuel Oils in November 2017 from well-known local businessman and son of the founder, Geoff Stone.

Geoff agreed to sell his company to Rix because, as another local, family firm, he was confident the business would uphold the values on which Stones Fuel Oils was built.

Lambert added the investment was a commitment to communities in Malton and the surrounding areas that Rix Petroleum was there to support them for the long-term.

He said: “As a fifth-generation family firm with proud Yorkshire roots, our success has been built on becoming part of the communities we serve and providing the best customer service and support we possibly can.

“This is what we aim to do in Malton; become a valued member of the community and ensure our customers know they can rely on us for all their fuel, lubricant and heating needs.”

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