– By Paul Oliver –
Following their acquisition of the Caltex/Woolworths network of 535 sites last year, EG Australia has introduced a new fuel card option for fleets into the local market.
Euro Garages (EG) is one of the UK’s fastest growing and most recognisable forecourt operators, with an expanding portfolio of around 7,000 sites across the UK, Europe, USA and now Australia.
To launch the EG Fuel Card, EG have partnered with fuellynk, managed by Linked Solutions – a subsidiary of FLEETCOR. You may know FLEETCOR from their own acquisition of the Fleet Card brand from GE in 2013.
The partnership seems like a good one, FLEETCOR know the Australian market, have established merchant transaction, credit management and sales acquisition capabilities. While EG appear to have aggressive expansion plans and a competitive fuel price!
EG have already acquired additional sites, boasting the largest number behind the three major oil companies. The EG branding is gradually starting to appear with some sites in Sydney’s western suburbs already changed to the new livery. The remainder will be part of a progressive rollout of the EG brand.
EG have a good geographical footprint with approximately 450 sites throughout NSW, QLD, VIC & Tas, and a further 100 across WA, SA & NT.
The relationship with Woolworths remains in place, which makes perfect sense as the fuel sites are generally located close to a Woolworth supermarket. That being the case, the best fuel discounts are achieved when EG Fuel Card customers use their Woolworths Rewards Card and spend $5 in store, earning points for every $1 spent on fuel and in-store purchases.
The introductory offer totals a sizeable 14 cents off pump price and that is on all fuel types except LPG. So those using Premium do not miss out!
The 14 cent discount is made up of:
- 4c for eligible Woolworths Everyday Rewards purchases (i.e minimum $30 spend)
- 4c for in-store purchases of at least $5
- 6c Off Pump Discount (this will drop to 3c when the introductory offer expires in 6 months).
Card features include:
- Easy and accessible control over accounts using EG’s online portal
- Card management controls such as purchase limits, product and fuel type restrictions
- Monthly invoice and options for payment methods with up to 49 payment free days – the best in market
- Fuel Management and Exception Reporting
- ATO approved Tax Invoice (so receipts are not required)
At first glance, this appears to be a Fuel Card most suited to Sole Traders and SME’s, given the maximum discounts are achieved by utilising individual Woolworths Rewards Cards.
FAN met with Poh Lee, Head of Business to Business Fuel Sales at EG Australia, and Martin Cislo, Director of Sales and Marketing at Fleetcor/fuellynk, to discuss the new car offer.
Lee was quick to point out that while small business is a big part of their target market they have a lot of offer larger businesses. “It’s the size of your invoice, not the size of the discount that is important when it comes to fuel,” he says.
This refers to the combination of a strong discount offer and their confidence in offering competitive fuel prices at the pump. EG see this as a key to their value proposition, along with the fact they sell quality Caltex fuel products.
Cislo refers to the key differentiator that the EG Fuel Card offers as the “double dip effect” – allowing customers to get all the benefits that other fuel cards offer in the marketplace, plus the ability to be able to utilise the Woolworths shopper dockets program and obtain additional fuel discounts through in-store purchases.
Lee and Cislo also confirmed that they see opportunity in the Novated Lease and Salary Packaging market and are exploring that space with Fleet Management and Salary Packaging Organisations.
A fuel card choice worth considering.
Paul Oliveris the Principal Consultant of Fleet Advisory – see www.fleetadvisory.com.au.
Fleet Advisory provides independent expert advice and consulting services relating to fleet and mobility solutions. Phone 0411 859 173 to speak with Paul.
