THE UK’s newest petrol station forecourt brand is planning further North- East expansion this year.

Harvest Energy took over the supply of fuel and branding for nine Bishop Retail-owned service stations at key locations in County Durham and Darlington, last year.

It was the largest group conversion for Harvest Energy since it expanded from commercial fuel supply to putting its own branding on forecourts in 2006.

The firm, which is the UK’s largest independent blender and supplier of road fuels, with customers including Asda and Morrisons, is planning further expansion of its forecourt presence in the region.

Simon Davis, head of sales and logistics for Harvest Energy, said: “It is fair to say we want to grow further in the North-East.

“We are actively looking for more business in the North-East in terms of petrol filling stations and commercial supply “The region is important – the North-East, Scotland and the South- East are our three core trading areas.

“We don’t own forecourts – they are owned independently and we provide them with a brand.”

Some of the petrol stations now with Bishop Retail had been under the BP banner for more than 20 years and Mr Davis said the long-term aim of the firm was to be as recognisable on forecourts as the large brands, which include Total and Shell.

As well as branding and fuel supply, Harvest Energy carries out pump maintenance and, nationally, the firm’s branding is now on nearly 30 forecourts.

The Bishop Retail service stations span an area from Monkwearmouth, in Sunderland, to the Carmel Filling Station, in Darlington, and include the group’s flagship site at Bradbury, near Sedgefield, County Durham, close to Junction 60 of the A1(M).

Harvest Energy has become an increasingly recognisable name in the North-East, having taken over the former Biofuels Corporation plant at Seal Sands in April last year.

In December, it announced a ten-year deal to remain on Teesside and 16 of the former Biofuels Corporation staff, who lost their jobs when the previous operators ran into difficulties, were reinstated.