MFG buys Morrisons petrol stations and plans EV charging hub rollout

Motor Fuel Group (MFG) is buying 337 petrol stations from Morrisons and more than 400 associated sites to develop ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs in a £2.5 billion deal.   

As part of the acquisition, Morrisons will take a minority stake of around 20% in MFG and enter into commercial and supply agreements with the company.

William Bannister, CEO of MFG, said: “This strategic acquisition, and the resulting partnership with the highly respected Morrisons brand, is the next major growth investment for MFG.

“It is anchored in the potential for us to accelerate the roll-out of ultra-rapid EV charging infrastructure across the UK while also giving customers a first-class retail offer.

“We will be there to serve and power our customers, regardless of what car they drive in the years and decades ahead as we play a key role in keeping the country and its economy moving. 

“We look forward to working with Morrisons to provide best-in-class charging, refuelling and retail experiences for all our customers.”

MFG has committed to supermarket fuel pricing across the Morrisons estate, with the Morrisons branding remaining.

Morrisons will continue to supply food and groceries across the 337 Morrisons petrol forecourts with the opportunity to expand its supply into the MFG estate over the medium term through its wholesale operation.

MFG is also aiming to install 800 ultra-rapid 150kW EV chargers in hubs within the first five years making it one of the largest ultra-rapid EV charge point operators in the UK, with more than 1,300 sites.

Rami Baitiéh, CEO of Morrisons, said: “As the needs of the customer continue to evolve, Morrisons and MFG’s partnership will see us combine our respective expertise and resources to deliver the best value for customers at the pump, in our convenience stores and in our supermarkets.

“It means Morrisons customers will continue to see a competitive and attractive forecourt offering, including expanded access to EV charging, while also benefitting from greater focus on investment in Morrisons’ core food business.

“We are delighted to have such a strong partner in MFG and look forward to the opportunities a combined MFG and Morrisons forecourt offering will provide.” 

Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and chief operating officer at Zapmap, welcomed the news. "It's fantastic to see MFG partnering with Morrisons to deliver reliable, high-powered charging for electric car drivers across the country,” she said.

“This acquisition of sites for EV charging amounts to a significant expansion of MFG EV Power's Ultra-Rapid network and is undoubtedly a win for UK motorists.

“MFG's fast-paced rollout of charging hubs is certainly impressive, while the increased availability of ultra-rapid charging capabilities across the UK will contribute to greater adoption of vehicles, which of course pollute less and support our collective efforts to reduce harmful carbon emissions.”

Click here to view a map of the current charging points across the MFG estate and see what the future will hold for UK drivers with the combined Morrisons and MFG forecourts estate.