MRPL to launch its retail sales outlet as ’HiQ’ brand

MRPL to launch its retail sales outlet as ’HiQ’ brand

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 20,2016: MRPL,  Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd  is all set to make its much expected foray into sales of motor spirit (petrol) and diesel through its retail outlet chains from this year end. The company at present has four outlets at Kuthethur outside its refinery, at Maddur, in Hubballi and at Kadri here. The company will market these petroleum products through 115 locations predominantly across Karnataka and North Kerala under the ’HiQ’ brand.

H Kumar, managing director, MRPL said the company will go in for an optimum mix of company-owned-company-operated (COCO) and franchisee models. Out of the 115 locations, 90 will be spread across Karnataka and the rest 25 in North Kerala districts. The locations have been chosen keeping in mind the transportation costs involved, Kumar said adding the company, an ONGC subsidiary, has taken a conscious decision to keep this cost down to the least.


The company at present is awaiting final clearances from the ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG), Kumar said adding that the company will also follow the 200-point roster decided by MoPNG in allocating the outlets. This means that the various stakeholders such as war widows, SC/STs will be in the reckoning as per the ministry guidelines, Kumar said. MRPL will strive to be at its competitive best in pricing the products in the present pricing regimen.

With its parent company ONGC taking a decision not to get in to retail sales of petroleum products, Kumar said MRPL will also take up to 1,100 odd licenses granted to the oil exploration behemoth and set up the outlets under its HiQ brand. The ministry has granted 500 licenses to MRPL to set up its own chain of retail outlets and the company will plan on rolling out these 1,600 outlets including the 115 for which plans have been made, in a phased manner, Kumar added.