Zuber Issa makes a French connection

Fast growing Blackburn forecourt group EG On The Move has reached an agreement to acquire 260 sites in France.

Zuber Issa’s company is purchasing the sites from EG Group – the global business he and his brother Mohsin founded in 2001. Financial details of the deal have not been revealed.

The move comes as EG Group prepares for a $9bn (£6.7bn) New York stock market listing later this year as it continues to move its operation from Lancashire to the US.

The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals in France, with completion anticipated to be later in the year.

The company already runs 160 petrol forecourt sites and 210 foodservice concessions across the UK.

Chief executive Zuber Issa said: “The agreement represents a proactive and disciplined step.”

He added: “EG On The Move continues to grow at a strong pace. We currently own and operate more than 420 trading units, comprising 160 petrol forecourt sites and over 210 foodservice concessions across the United Kingdom.

“In addition to this network investment, we have also installed rapid EV chargers at more than 50 locations, delivering approximately 310 charging ports for customers to date.

“The proposed acquisition of the French network from EG Group will further diversify our portfolio, allow us to invest in our recognised retail channels and create additional opportunities to roll out rapid EV charging infrastructure.”

EG Group, created in Blackburn by the billionaire brothers, has become one of the world’s largest fuel retailing multinationals, expanding its foodservice offering and generating significant profits.

Zuber founded EG On The Move when he acquired the forecourt division of the EG Group in a £228m deal in 2024, stepping down as co-chief executive.

Following the breakup of the business empire he built with his brother Mohsin, he has been actively growing his new company as he looks to “create a retail powerhouse” in the independent petrol forecourt sector.

EG Group, about 25 per cent of which is owned by each of the brothers, is reported to have held a beauty parade of banks in London ahead of a listing. Its US sites are reported to be worth more than £3.7bn.

The business is roughly 50 per cent-owned by TDR Capital, the London-based private equity firm which also owns a controlling stake in supermarket giant Asda.

At the end of last year, it was revealed the group was poised to quit its Lancashire headquarters for America as part of its “continued transition to a US-managed organisation.”

EG On The Move will continue to be headquartered in Blackburn.