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United Petroleum
Company typePrivate
IndustryFuel retail and distribution
Founded1993
FounderAvi Silver
Eddie Hirsch
Headquarters
Hawthorn, Victoria
,
Australia
Number of locations
450+ sites (2020)
Number of employees
2500
SubsidiariesPie Face
Websiteunitedpetroleum.com.au

United Petroleumis an Australian petrol retailer and importer. It was established in 1993 and, as of October 2020,has over 450 petrol stations in Australia.[1]The company also ownsPie Face,a pie outlet it acquired in 2017 and subsequently rolled out to many of its service stations.

History

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United Petroleum's origins can be traced back to 1981, when United's owners Avi Silver and Eddie Hirsch commenced operating service stations under the Astron banner inVictoria.[2]Astron was closely associated withEsso.By 1990, the company had opened 23 new sites throughout Victoria.[3]

United Petroleum was established in 1993, with the opening of a chain of service stations/convenience stores inSouth Australia.[2]It expanded operations in Victoria, and over the next two years built networks in theAustralian Capital Territory,New South WalesandQueensland.It later expanded into theNorthern Territory,TasmaniaandWestern Australia.[3]

In the mid 2000s, it acquired fuel import terminals in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania and Victoria.[3]In 2011, United purchased anethanolbiorefinery inDalby, Queensland.[4]

In September 2015,ABC Newswas told by United Petroleum franchisees that staff at some locations were being underpaid. United rejected the allegations, saying "If any Franchisee is not paying award wages then the Franchisee would be clearly in breach of their Franchise Agreement with United".[5]TheFair Work Ombudsmanlaunched an investigation resulting in raids on 12 locations in 2017. The FWO found payroll compliance issues at five of the locations and a total of 46 employees were underpaid. Two locations entered enforceable undertakings with the regulator, two locations were issued compliance notices and three were issued letters of caution.[6]

In September 2016, United Petroleum filed documents with theAustralian Securities & Investments Commissionto list the company on theAustralian Securities Exchange.[7]However the listing did not proceed, with United becoming involved in a legal dispute with advisorsHerbert Smith Freehills.[8]The case was dismissed in June 2018 with United ordered to pay HSF unpaid legal fees plus interest.[9]

In April 2017, United Petroleum acquiredPie Facefromreceivershipfor an undisclosed sum.[10]It subsequently sold Pie Face products at many of its United locations.[11]

In 2021 a number of former franchisees sued the company for allegedly unfair termination.[12]

In December 2022, United was fined $75,000 for dumping soil from a demolished petrol station site near theNoosa Riverin 2013.[13]

Sponsorships

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Between 2014 and 2016, United Petroleum was the official supplier ofE85fuel for theSupercars Championship,[14]after whichShelltook over the supply deal.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Rice, Stephen (31 October 2020)."Petrol giant accused of misleading motorists on fuel".The Australian.Retrieved5 October2023.
  2. ^abGreenblat, Eli (26 December 2021)."Saudi Arabia's Aramco Trading Co signs MOU with Australia's United Petroleum to collaborate on fuel and logistics".The Australian.Retrieved5 October2023.
  3. ^abc"About Us".United Petroleum.Retrieved5 October2023.
  4. ^Nason, James (24 May 2011)."New owner for sorghum to ethanol plant".Beef Central.Retrieved5 October2023.
  5. ^Taylor, Josie (2 September 2015)."Wage abuse claims spread to petrol chain United Petroleum".ABC News.Retrieved5 October2023.
  6. ^Ferguson, Adele; Danckert, Sarah (5 April 2017)."United Petroleum blasted by Fair Work Ombudsman for underpaying staff".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved5 October2023.
  7. ^United Petroleum sets IPO deadlinePetrol World 22 September 2016
  8. ^Han, Misa (3 April 2018)."Herbert Smith Freehills blamed for failed United Petroleum IPO".Australian Financial Review.Retrieved5 October2023.
  9. ^Han, Misa (25 June 2018)."Herbert Smith Freehills wins court battle against United Petroleum".Australian Financial Review.Retrieved5 October2023.
  10. ^Chung, Frank (13 April 2017)."United Petroleum acquires Pie Face".news.com.au.News Corp Australia.Retrieved13 April2017.
  11. ^Rice, Stephen (4 November 2020)."Pastry chain Pie Face caught out on 'halal' porky pies".The Australian.Retrieved4 October2023.
  12. ^Knight, Ben (20 June 2021)."Under the pump".ABC News.ABC News.Retrieved20 June2021.
  13. ^Cavander, Letea (22 December 2022)."United Petroleum fined $75k after seven-year case over Noosa soil dump".Sunshine Coast Daily.Retrieved4 October2023.
  14. ^United Petroleum Fuels V8 Supercars from 2014Supercars
  15. ^"Supercars partners with Shell Fuels".Supercars.3 March 2017.
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