Quick Fix for city Star Marts

There are now 12 Fix convenience shops. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Chevron has sold its inner-city standalone Caltex Star Marts as it concentrates on its fuel business.

The 12 convenience stores are now branded Fix stores after being sold to Auckland retail specialists Star Metro Holdings.

A Chevron spokeswoman said the sale came after a review of the businesses set up as a pilot in New Zealand for the past decade.

"We made a strategic decision globally that we were in the business of fuel, not in the business of running convenience stores."

While rivals Shell and Mobil are in the process of selling their downstream operations, she said the sale of the standalone Star Marts should not be read as a sign Chevron was moving in the same direction.

"We've made a commitment to the New Zealand market and have no plans, as far as I'm aware, to be elsewhere."

Star Marts attached to fuel outlets were not part of the deal.

The general manager of Star Metro Holdings, Jonno Buckley, said a $500,000 rebranding programme switching the marts to Fix stores had just about been completed.

There were five stores in the Auckland CBD and seven in Wellington which were won in a closed tender last August.

Besides the new look, the product range would be targeted at inner-city shoppers, rather than carrying stock and promotions that were more appropriate at suburban filling stations.

Buckley said his company would like to see the Fix business expand, possibly through franchise deals.