Bright New Look For Gull Service Stations
Family-owned Night ‘n Day leaps into the North Island with 21 new stores
Auckland, June 20 2011 – Gull has announced a new partnership with Kiwi convenience store chain Night ‘n Day, a South Island company that has
taken over the operation of Gull’s 21 largest service stations.
The final store, at Kingsland station in Auckland, opened on 11 May with a new, streamlined look and completely new
stock.
Gull General Manager Dave Bodger says customers will notice the excellent service provided by Night ‘n Day’s directors
Denise and Andrew Lane, along with their hand-picked managers and franchise owners.
While the stores have a consistent look and feel, managers have the flexibility to service their local community.
“Like Gull, Night ‘n Day provides choice to its customers. We pride ourselves on our extensive range of products
including grocery, health and beauty and hardware items to name a few. We are unique in that we have in-store ice-cream
parlours, delicatessens, hot and cold café items that are made daily and fried foods. We have a wide selection to cater
for everyone while still carrying traditional service station items such as drinks, confectionery, pies, magazines and
automotive products,” said Mr Lane.
Mr Bodger approached Night ‘n Day to replace Woolworths stores on Gull sites after hearing Andrew Lane speak at a
conference.
“I was very impressed by what I heard. Like Gull, Night ‘n Day is a family-owned company that has the freedom to manage
its stores in a way that suits local motorists and shoppers,” said Bodger.
“Andrew and Denise personally manage every aspect of setting up a new store so I knew they would do a good job.”
The Dunedin -based couple grew their network of franchises from one store 20 years ago to 28 stores in the South Island
before this year. The partnership with Gull enabled them to launch a major expansion into the North Island, taking Night
‘n Day to a total of 49 stores in just a few months.
Mr Lane says learning the ropes of fuel retailing was a challenge. “We have had to up-skill ourselves, our franchisees
and their employees on all aspects of environment, health and safety standards relating to the fuel industry to ensure
the people that provide our service are fully competent, trained, meet certifying standards and provide a superior
service”.
ENDS
About Gull
Gull New Zealand is the independent oil company that is credited with keeping the fuel market competitive and giving
savings to the Kiwi motorist. It has become a serious player, offering a real choice for motorists in an extremely
competitive market. The company remains today a family owned operation.
Gull New Zealand was founded in 1998 by the Rae family who saw the need and potential for an independent energy
supplier. Adherence to a philosophy of low cost management, prudent investment decisions and a carefully planned
marketing strategy commenced with the building of a state of the art terminal in Mount Maunganui in 1998. Tanks were
relocated from Marsden Point by barge, a feat the opposition said was “impossible”.
Gull New Zealand made the first retail sales of petrol in 1999 and has grown the network to over 40 branded sites.
Gull has been a first mover in introducing innovative new products to the New Zealand energy market. These include low
sulphur diesel bringing environmental benefits well ahead of the opposition, as well as New Zealand’s first biofuel,
Gull Force 10 (a 10% ethanol mixed with premium gasoline giving higher octane and cleaner performance).
2010 saw Gull achieve another first and extend its environmental focus with release of Gull Diesel Max, a high quality
bio diesel blend sourced from sustainable New Zealand vegetable oil.
2011 has heralded four new Gull outlets in four months and the launch of Gull Force Pro, an 85% ethanol blended fuel,
making Gull the only retailer of this new generation fuel in New Zealand.
Gull now sells three petrol/bioethanol blends - Gull Force 10 and Gull Regular Plus, which each contain up to 10%
ethanol (E10), and Gull Force Pro, a specialist fuel which contains 85% bioethanol mixed with 15% petrol (E85).
Gull now has five service stations that only sell bio fuel blends which is another first for New Zealand.
For more information please visit www.gull.co.nz
About Night ‘n Day
Denise and Andrew Lane, the directors of the company, have been successfully retailing in the convenience store trade
since 1978. In 1990 they established Night ‘n Day Foodstore Ltd, converting existing foodstores to offer a franchise
system.
The Night ‘n Day Foodstore chain began with outlets open on a 24hr basis, 7 days a week, in Christchurch, Dunedin and
Invercargill and from 7am to 11pm in Timaru & Nelson. The outlets are now located throughout the South Island ranging from Invercargill to Nelson. Night ’n Day
Foodstores have a vast product range that stand out including a full bakery, delicatessen, groceries, frozen foods,
sandwich bar, bain-maire, hot food, pie selection and café style coffee.
Night ‘n Day Foodstores is committed to a philosophy of quality service and presentation. Our standards can be summed up
in one word - EXCELLENCE - and that excellence must be reflected in every aspect of our business. Our aim is to meet the demands of our
customers and be leaders in the convenience grocery store market, hence our slogan "We've got it when you want it".
Night ‘n Day Foodstores are also the only retailer nationwide that sell the renowned Hellova Coffee brand. Helova Coffee
is Night ‘n Day's premium blend of the wickedest grade of Arabica beans. After a devilishly good blasting of fire and
brimstone, our coffee beans are expertly balanced to create a complex yet harmonious balance of flavours. Our supplier
has earned an enviable reputation for both the quality and consistency of their coffee. The beans are roasted daily and
as coffee beans should ideally be used within 15 days from being roasted, we only order in smaller quantities on a
weekly basis. The blend we use is a combination of top grade Arabica coffee beans from Brazil, Guatemala and Kenya,
producing a sweet, full-bodied coffee with milk chocolate notes.
In 2011 Night ‘n Day moved into the North Island by opening 21 foodstores on Gull petrol station forecourts.
For more information please visit www.nightnday.co.nz