Polish fuel firm Orlen to open petrol stations in Slovakia

Dominant Polish fuel firm PKN Orlen is entering the retail market in Slovakia where the company will open fuel service stations under the Benzina brand, the firm announced in a press statement.

Currently, PKN Orlen has petrol stations in Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany and Lithuania.

Ten stations are scheduled to open in the first year of the company's operations on the Slovakian market with the first one to be launched in Malacky, near the Slovak-Czech border, in late March or early April. The network will be developed through franchise cooperation with smaller station operators or acquisitions.

The President of PKN Orlen, Daniel Obajtek, pointed out that 20 percent of wholesale products sold in Slovakia come from the Orlen Group refineries.

"It is a solid base that allows us to build sales also in the retail segment. We chose the Benzina brand, as it is recognised by two-thirds of Slovak drivers," Obajtek said as quoted in the statement.

In Slovakia, Orlen will use primarily its own fuels, while the non-fuel offer will include local products as well those made in Poland and the Czech Republic.