Five Puma service stations at Howard Springs, Humpty Doo, Palmerston, Nightcliff and Whishart Road will close at 6pm Thursday as OTR (formerly On The Run) prepares to take over the outlets’ operation, which will start on April 1.
Eight other Puma outlets across the Territory will also be closing after midnight as floor layouts will be upgraded, with most of the outlets likely to be closed Friday (March 31) as the official transfer of ownership takes place at midnight and re-opens on Saturday morning.
Puma— owned by US-owned energy giant Chevron—and OTR, which was looking to enter the NT market, entered negotiations late last year before the deal became public in January.
“OTR is looking forward to entering the northern Australian market and becoming part of the local community,” an OTR representative said.
“We pride ourselves on being business builders, working collaboratively with the community, our suppliers and business partners, to deliver the best in market innovative and fresh approach to convenience retail.
“Over the coming months OTR will announce new store offerings for the NT, which will include a range of OTR branded products.”
OTR, founded in 1984, now has at least 180 petrol stations and convenience outlets across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and WA.
OTR has partnerships with several leading brands that include Guzman Y Gomez, Krispy Kreme, HappyDogWash and Subway.
The new operator will still sell Chevron fuel at all its outlets in the Territory at least for the moment. OTR did not say when, or if, it will introduce its brand into the Territory.
Puma currently has 15 branded stations in the Territory.
Extracted in full from: OTR takes over Puma service stations starting April 1 – closures planned for Friday | NT Independent
