We are GB Fuels, not GB Oils

Throughout this tough winter period, GB Fuels has always striven to provide the best level of service, treating all its customers with the same level of care and consideration. This service is provided by GB Fuels, an independent, family-owned and family-managed business, which is not part of GB Oils Ltd.

You may have read articles in both national and local newspapers about an Irish company, DCC Plc. They operate in the UK as GB Oils Ltd. This subsidiary was formed in 2004 and I would like to stress that it has no connection whatsoever with GB Fuels, which is an independent, family-owned and family-managed company, founded by my great-grandfather in 1877.

As such, we are currently in dispute with DCC Plc over the use of the GB Oils Ltd name. Through this name, they have acquired numerous oil companies and, in the North East, now have what is approaching a supply monopoly. The companies they have bought, which operate in the North East, include: Brett Fuels, James D Johnston, F Peart & Co, Charter Fuels, Bayford & Co, Emo, Noble Fuels and CPL Petroleum.

These companies continue to trade under their original brand names, despite being 100% owned and controlled by DCC Plc. We advise all our customers to note that, in the North East, truly independent fuel supply companies are now rare and we are proud to be one of the few remaining.

GB Fuels has over 130 years of experience in the industry and region and we pride ourselves on our independence, which we believe allows us to provide a friendly, professional service, at competitive prices.

DCC Plc has also been acquiring heating oil price comparison websites, including Boiler Juice.com, which provides supposedly the lowest quotes from several companies in the area. In an area like the North East, these quotes are, of course, mainly from their own companies and, as stated in numerous recent press articles, do not always offer the lowest prices.

Featuring on the BBC TV news in mid-December, I explained the problems which the industry faced in the adverse weather conditions and how we were trying to make sure all our customers had enough oil over Christmas. I am proud to say that, although we had to turn away many non-customers due to industry supply issues, we were able to quote and supply the vast majority of our customers over this period.

The prices we quoted to all our customers were always among the lowest of our competitors and remained so, despite national heating oil supply problems in December - and in contrast to some companies, which were subject to ‘profiteering’ allegations in the press.