Topaz enters new partnership with GoCar

Topaz (Circle K Ireland), and GoCar, have announced a new partnership to make car sharing easier for more people across the country, writes Trish Whelan. 

The partnership will create four new GoCar bases at Topaz stations in Dalkey, Bray, Limerick, and Navan. 

The newly installed GoCar vehicles will provide Topaz customers with an affordable transport option allowing them to avail of car sharing for short-term vehicle journeys.

These new GoCar bases at Topaz forecourts will offer a means of transport for those who want a car, or van, on a short-term basis. 

The move comes as Topaz gears up to rebrand to Circle K Ireland. 

GoCar’s aim is to make transport easier and more affordable across Ireland and the partnership with the fuel provider is expected to increase access to car sharing among Topaz customers.

The new GoCars are a mix of passenger cars and vans, and are now live on site. Cars are at the Topaz stations at Ulverton Road in Dalkey; Dublin Road in Bray; while vans are located at Topaz Proudstown in Navan and at Dock Road in Limerick.

GoCar is calling on the public to recommend additional locations for new GoCar bases. 

Business Development Manager for Topaz, Gergal Egan; and Managing Director of GoCar, Colm Brady are pictured at the announcement of the new partnership.

Topaz fundraiser for Jack & Jill this weekend

Topaz will ‘Raise a Teacup’ to the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation this August Bank Holiday weekend by donating 50c of the ‘Add a pastry for €1’ offer in its Re.Store retail outlets to the children’s charity from Saturday 5 August to Monday 7 August, writes Trish Whelan.

The campaign is part of Jack & Jill’s 20th Anniversary celebrations which involve Afternoon Teas held throughout the country to raise money for essential services.

To raise awareness of its ‘Raise a Teacup’ campaign, Topaz will also be hosting tea mornings at participating sites on this Saturday (5th August) from 10am-12pm, attended by local Jack & Jill families.

The tea parties will be taking place in: Topaz’s Carlow M9 service station; Topaz Cashel, Tipperary; Topaz Ballacolla, Laois; Topaz Kill, Kildare; Topaz Clonshaugh, Dublin; Topaz Ballysimon, Limerick; Topaz City Avenue, Dublin; and Topaz Tuam, Galway. Local customers are encouraged to keep an eye on Topaz Energy onFacebook and @topazenergy on Twitter for full details on these events.

This campaign also marks €200,000 raised to date by Topaz for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation through various campaigns including ‘Small Change for Big Change’, and their recent ‘LEGO Exchange’ drive where customers could donate loose LEGO to Topaz stores to raise money for Jack & Jill.  The partnership, launched in 2015, will see Topaz raise €400,000 in vital funds for the children’s organisation - and the Raise a Teacup campaign is the latest drive in this initiative.

These campaigns undertaken by Topaz have resulted in the provision of 12,500 hours of home care nursing to date for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation. 

While parenting for most is about feeding, changing, teething, and wishing for a good night’s sleep, parenting for the families supported by Jack & Jill involves coping with seizures, feeding tubes and pain, alongside medication, physio appointments and hospital visits. It also provides end of life care to all children, including children with cancer who require it up to the age of 4 years.

We can all do our bit to help this worthy cause. 

Pictured above at Topaz Service Station, Citywest are, Topaz Brand Ambassador and Ireland rugby legend Alan Quinlan; Wendy Griffin with her son Eric Fitzpatrick who is a patient of Jack & Jill (4); and Sinead Moriarty, Marketing & Communications Manager, Topaz. 

Topaz raises over €280k for Aware

Topaz customers and staff have raised over €280k in the past two years for their charity partner Aware, writes Trish Whelan.

As well as fundraising, the partnership aims to promote positive mental health and to highlight the important services that Aware provides.

In September alone, Topaz staff nationwide raised over €17,000 through a variety of fundraisers for Aware's 'Beat the Blues Campaign'. Topaz brand ambassador Alan Quinlan, who has himself experienced depression, was on hand in Cashel recently to support staff in their fundraising efforts.

Five year old John Fitzgerald from New Inn is pictured with his dad - also John - making a donation to the former Munster and Ireland rugby international.

For more information on depression and Aware's support services see www.aware.ie.

Topaz: big winner at Forecourt Awards

Topaz was the big winner at Ireland's Forecourt and Convenience Retailer Awards, claiming five of the 14 titles on offer, writes Trish Whelan.

The Company picked up the award for Best Oil Company Initiative for its Play or Park loyalty programme, while one of the company''s new flagship sites, Topaz Dublin Airport, won the Forecourt & Convenience Store of the Year (Cat 2).

The awards, now in their ninth year, were presented at a gala reception held in the Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin, recently and attended by over 350 guests. The event was hosted by RTE presenter Miriam O'Callaghan.

Laura Murphy, Loyalty Manager at Topaz, said the company was particularly delighted to see its loyalty programme recognised with such a prestigious award. Laura is pictured receiving the Best Oil Company Initiative from Michael Conroy from Costa Express.

Barack Obama Plaza Spar/Topaz in Moneygall, Co Offaly, won the Newcomer of the Year award; Lilley's Topaz/Centra in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, won Best Customer Service award, while O'Sullivan's Topaz/Centra, Innishannon, Co Cork won Best use of Category Management award.

The IFCR Awards are the country's only specialist awards for the forecourt industry.

Go racing in Galway for less on Topaz Tuesday

With the build up to the Galway Races well underway, and 250,000 people expected to attend throughout the week, Topaz is sponsoring three races as part of Topaz Tuesday, the €115,000 Topaz Mile, the €22,000 Topaz Novice Hurdle and the €16,500 Topaz EBF Maiden hurdle.

To celebrate this sponsorship, Topaz is selling tickets for Topaz Tuesday for €10, a saving of €15 on the usual price of €25. This offer is available to anyone who spends €25 on fuel at a selected number of Topaz service stations in the Galway region. Check out topaz.ie for the full list of Topaz sites offering this deal.

Topaz Brand Ambassador, and former Irish rugby international, Alan Quinlan is pictured above with models Mary Lee and Katie Brill at the launch of 'Topaz Tuesday' at the Galway Races on Tuesday 29 July of the festival.

Gabor wins a Toyota Yaris with Topaz

A Donabate resident has won a new Toyota Yaris in Topaz's new Play or Park loyalty game, writes Trish Whelan.

Gabor Petranyi (37) is now the proud owner of a stylish Yaris 1.0 Sol after he claimed the Play or Park prize for May. The overall package valued at over €20,000 includes free fuel for a year.

Gabor, originally from Hungary, has been living in Ireland for six years. He works in the automation and engineering sector.

He signed up for Play or Park when the game started and hoped to win a car so saved his points for those games.

The new Yaris comes with vehicle stability control, a 6-speaker radio/CD system, auxiliary inserts for USB connector for iPod, MP3 and USB drive, Toyota Touch 6.1" touch screen with rear-view camera display, as well as Bluetooth for hands free calls.

Topaz are celebrating the success of Play or Park over the next few months by giving away an experience of a lifetime to the customer who makes the one millionth play. The company expect to reach that landmark during July or August and the lucky winner will be presented with their choice of the twelve monthly prizes.

Gabor is pictured above with his son in his new Toyota Yaris.

Topaz opens new station at Dublin Airport

Topaz, Ireland's largest convenience and fuel retailer, has opened a new service station at Dublin Airport.

The €3m redevelopment of the site has transformed it into one of the most modern and best equipped in the country.

Pictured at the opening are Kevin Toland, Chief Executive Dublin Airport Authority (right) and John Williamson, Chief Executive of Topaz.

Topaz selling 5m cups of coffee a year

Louise Duffy

Many truck and car drivers have availed of a refreshing cup of coffee at Topaz stores, when refuelling or simply taking a break during long journeys.

All these cups have added to a total of five million cups a year. The company has over 330 service stations nationwide, and has seen its coffee sales rise by 20 percent over the last two years as consumer confidence strengthens.

The figures were released at the launch of the Company's new Breakfast Campaign in Dublin. The main purpose of the campaign was to make customers aware of the range of breakfast options now available at Topaz service stations. Paul Candon of Topaz says their Fairtrade coffee is hugely popular with their customers. They also offer people on the move a range of quality breakfast options from 7am every morning.

The campaign was launched by Today FM radio presenter Louise Duffy.

New Topaz motorway services on M8 and M9

Topaz has announced an €8 million investment in two new motorway sites on the M8 and M9, writes Trish Whelan. These will create 200 job in the construction phase and 100 full time jobs once the sites are up and running.

One will be located at Junction 3 on the Dublin Cork Motorway (M8) near Abbeyleix in County Laois while the other will be near Carlow at Junction 5 on the Dublin Waterford Motorway (M9).

Work on the 600 square metre site in Co Laois will begin in January 2014 and is expected to be completed by July 2014. A planning application has been submitted for the Co Carlow site and if granted permission, work is expected to begin next Summer.

Two hundred people will be employed during the construction phase of both sites while 50 people will be employed full-time once the 24/7 stations are fully operational. The site in Co Carlow will include a quick serve restaurant and this will lead to the creation of another 50 jobs.

Footballers put driving skills to the test

A group of senior footballers drawn from amongst the top sides in the country put their efficient driving skills to the test in an event organised by Topaz recently.

The main aim of The Topaz Test was to encourage motorists to adopt more efficient driving techniques and to highlight the fact that not all fuels are the same.

At Kill, in Co Kildare, they were given a briefing on the route by two fuel efficiency experts who also outlined the key elements of efficient driving such as driving in a smooth style at moderate speed, reducing drag by closing the windows and using cruise control on the motorway.

Darran O'Sullivan from Kerry (front left) emerged the winner, winning €1,000 for the charity of his choice, Pieta House, the centre for the prevention of self-harm or suicide, courtesy of Topaz. The Kerry star achieved a fuel consumption rate of 5.42 litres per 100kms in the 1.6 diesel vehicles which works out at around 50 mpg.

Darran is pictured above with Aidan Walsh (Cork), Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), and Karl Lacey (Donegal).

Couple prepare for Michelin star tour of Europe

Thomas Vainio-Mattila from Finland and his wife Niamh Keon from Artane in Dublin are preparing to embark on a gourmet trail to three of Europe's finest restaurants after claiming the prize in the Topaz Play or Park loyalty game, writes Trish Whelan.

Thomas is pictured receiving his prize from Laura Murphy, Loyalty Manager Topaz, and sous chef Stuart Reilly from Scholars Townhouse Hotel in Drogheda.

Topaz and AXA launch new fuel card

AXA are rewarding customer loyalty by partnering with Topaz to provide a new fuel card, as part of the AXA Plus Programme, writes Trish Whelan.

The fuel card guarantees 2 cent off per litre on Topaz petrol and diesel at any of the 320 Topaz service stations in the Republic of Ireland.

The card means drivers don't have to worry about carrying cash and will save money each time they fill up their tank.

Card users will also be able to enter the Topaz Play or Park loyalty scheme which offers customers the chance to win prizes every month.

Pictured at the launch of the new fuel card are Liam Mulcahy, Commercial Director at Topaz and Colm McGrattan, Executive Director at AXA.

Mary is Forecourt Manager of the Year

The manager of one of Topaz's flagship sites, Cashel in Co Tipperary, has been crowned Forecourt Manager of the Year for 2013, writes Trish Whelan. Topaz Cashel is located at Junction 8 on the M8 motorway.

Mary, who has worked with Topaz for three years, was presented with the Shelflife GRAM Award at a ceremony in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire recently. She is pictured above receiving her award from Andrew Johnston, Managing Director, Johnston Shopfitters.

As well as Mary's award, Topaz's CoCo (company-owned, company-operated) retail team was also represented in other award categories with Chris McVeigh of Casey's Qukckstop in Ballina, Co Mayo winning the C-Store Manager of the Year category for stores between 2,000 and 6,000 square feet.

Louise wins Topaz trip to Rio

Louise Hegarty from Killiney, Co Dublin, is heading to Rio de Janeiro in December after winning a holiday worth €20,000 in Topaz's Play or Park loyalty game.

Louise will jet off with a friend for seven nights in the 5-star Copacabana Palace, the most luxurious hotel in Rio. She can splash out in the shopping district of Ipanema with €2,000 in spending money and will enjoy a helicopter tour to see all the local sights including the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer that overlooks the city.

Louise is pictured above (right) with Laura Murphy, Topaz Loyalty Manager; and Brazilian, Adelson Maia.

Over 100,000 people have registered to play Topaz's Play or Park since it was launched in early February.

Dubliner wins new car with Topaz

Graham Bushe, from Firhouse, Dublin, is the winner of a new car in Topaz's new Play or Park loyalty game.

Graham drove off in his new four-door Seat Ibiza 1.2 SE after he claimed the prize for April. As well as winning a new car, the overall package valued at €20,000 includes free petrol and insurance for a year.

Graham works with the HSE in Cherry Orchard. His wife, Bernie, choose the car colour.

Karl Thompson, Topaz Area Manager for South Dublin is pictured presenting Graham with their new car at Topaz Newlands Cross.

So far over 100,000 people have registered to play Play or Park. The June prize is a weeklong stay at the five star Copacabana Hotel in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Navan man wins Topaz March prize

Navan man John Corrigan has won a holiday of a lifetime after he became the second winner of Topaz's new Play or Park loyalty game.

John, his wife and two daughters will be jetting off to The Monaco Grand Prix in a few months time.

John, a self employed truck driver, is a regular customer at Topaz in Shannon.

He was presented with his prize by Topaz Area Manager for the West, Kevin McGinley at the Topaz Shannon Service Station in Co Clare.

John (in blue sweater) is pictured with from left - Laura Murphy, Site Manager, Topaz Shannon; Kevin McGinley, Area Manager, Topaz, West of Ireland; and Ben Dempsey in a Grand Prix suit.

Drogheda man claims Topaz prize

A Drogheda man is the first winner of Topaz's new Play or Park loyalty game.

Richard Smith from Grangerath, Drogheda, and his wife Linda will be jetting off to The Maldives in a few months' time. Richard is a service engineer with a medical company and is a regular customer at Topaz Coolfore in Ashbourne.

He was presented with his prize by Topaz's new Brand Ambassador, former Irish rugby international Alan Quinlan and the company's Marketing and Corporate Services Director Paul Candon.

Topaz launched Play or Park in early February and some 75,000 have registered so far to play it. To enter the game customers collect points which enable them to Play for an experience of a lifetime price every month - or they can choose to Park them and carry them forward to participate in a following month's game.

Topaz launches €3m loyalty game

Fuel and convenience retailer, Topaz, is to invest €3 million in a new interactive loyalty game for customers called Play or Park.

The company expects 250,000 customers to sign up to the game in its first year.

Among the monthly prizes on offer are a luxury holiday in Rio, a new car with free fuel for a year, an all-expenses paid shopping trip to New York with three friends and a trip for four to the Monaco Grand Prix.

To enter the game, customers collect points which enable them to Play for a prize every month - or they can choose to Park them and carry them forward to participate in a following month's game. Everyone who plays each month is eligible for a free Topaz treat of a coffee and muffin, car wash etc.

To play, you must get a digital game tag on your mobile phone by downloading the Topaz app. Alternatively, pick up a game tag at your local Topaz site, activate it by scanning and then register to Play by filling in an application form or by going online at www.topaz.ie.

Jason aims for medals in Paralymic Games

Sprinter Jason Smyth, who won double gold in the 100 and 200m at the Beijing Paralympics, is aiming to retain his modals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games next week.

Jason was recently unveiled as the first Brand Ambassador for Topaz, the fuel and convenience foods retailer.

He is the fastest paralympian in the world and one of the Irish Paralympic team's main medal hopes. T

Derry-born Smyth, who returned to Ireland last month from winter training with top US sprinter Tyson Gay in Florida, grew up with Stargardt's Disease, a genetic disorder, which has left him with less than 10 per cent of normal vision.

Topaz Cashel wins food award

One of Topaz's flagship service stations, the motorway site at Cashel in Co Tipperary has won a major forecourt award for fresh food.

The Cashel site, located at Junction 8 on the M8, beat off stiff competition from 36 other competitors from all over the country to claim the 2012 Checkout Best in Fresh Award for a forecourt store.

The awards are in their seventh year and are hosted by checkout Magazine.

The award ceremony was held recently at the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin. Andria Brabston and Rory Hyland from Topaz Cashel are pictured with their  award. The Manager at Topaz Cashel is Noel Darcy. Last year Cashel was awarded the NACS International Convenience Retailer of the Year award while earlier this year at the GRAM Awards, Noel won the Forecourt Manager of the Year award.

Services on offer at the site include a hot food buffet and cafe, children's play area, wi-fi internet access, toilets and showers. The site also has a McDonald's restaurant, which is also a first motorway location for that company.