Petroleum products company Shell India Marketing Pvt. Ltd (Shell Marketing) has stated that it will follow the “company-owned retailer-operated” model to set up a network of petrol pumps across the country.
Managing Director Surinderdeep Singh explained that the investments in land and building for setting up a gas station will be made by the company, while running expenses will be left to the retail franchisee. “The franchisee will run the petrol station strictly according to the safety and management standards of Shell, and will be responsible to maintain the quality benchmark of the company,” Singh said.
Shell Marketing opened its first retail outlet in Pune . Singh affirmed, “Pune is an important market and we will certainly have a greater presence in the years to come.” Additionally, “Metros like Mumbai have a dearth of affordable real estate, so we will try and invest in greater Mumbai.” Singh added that the company is looking to enter Gujarat next and is currently looking out for locations. The bigger plan is “to reach out to mid-size cities as well as be present alongside the national highways”
Shell Marketing had 32 petrol pumps by the end of 2006, up from 22 in December 2005.
