Neste Oil strengthens position in Northwest Russia

Neste Oil Corporation has acquired four new service stations in Russia’s St. Petersburg region in November. The recent purchases and the opening of three new outlets early this year have strengthened the company’s share in the retail market in Northwest Russia. In line with Neste Oil’s new retail concept, the company is also revamping its service station network. In total, Neste Oil now owns 61 service stations in Russia and employs around 900 people. “Our overall aim is to consolidate Neste Oil’s position as one of the leading brands on the retail market in and around St. Petersburg,” said Indrek Kaju, general manager, Russian Operations, at Neste St. Petersburg. “An extensive station network, together with our revamped retail concept and high standards of customer service, will be central to our long-term success,” he added. Neste Oil is involved in refining and marketing low-emission, high-quality transport fuels. It is the world’s leading supplier of renewable diesel, and the company is also involved in the production of a wide range of major petroleum products. It employs 5,000 people and had a net sale of €11.9 billion (US$15.5 billion) in 2010. Neste Oil has a network of 1,171 service stations and is a major retailer of petroleum products in Finland, Northwest Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The company aims to be a major marketing outlet for premium-quality, low-emission products. “Neste Oil’s goal is to be one of the two largest station networks in all its selected markets, and we are now closer to achieving this in Northwest Russia as well,” said Panu Kopra, Neste Oil’s vice president, Russian, Polish and Baltic Operations. (November 25, 2011)