Founded by Jack Watkins who used his WW1 severance pay to set up the business , New Era focused on light and heavy industries supplying oils and greases for factories , garages and workshops . As the UK ’ s automotive market grew , strong relationships were forged with companies such as Ford Motors at Dagenham .

In 1976 the business was acquired by Victor Geggus , father of the present managing director Reg , who was just 16 when he joined the business in 1979 . Now based at in Harlow in Essex since 2012 , Fuel Oil News editor Jane

Raphael met with Reg recently .

Over the next 20 undulating years , this innovative and responsive business has expanded its product range ; introduced new technology including plastic oil containers and own brand options ; focused on motorist discount shops and the home servicing market and exported to both the Russian Federation and Afghanistan .

“ We invested heavily in filling machines and targeted the garage workshop market ,” explained Reg . “ With cars then needing a service every 5000 miles – and we also supplied the black taxi market

– we did very well indeed .

“ We tapped into the export market with our packaged goods , sending huge quantities of product to retail petrol stations in Russia and a new market also opened up in Afghanistan . Sadly , these exports came to an end when the Afghan war erupted and the Russian economy collapsed in the 1990s .”

Constructing a business As the lubricants market took a dip , New Era focused more on the fuels market to meet the construction industry ’ s growing demand for supplies of bulk

and emergency gas oil / diesel for on-site plant and machinery . Introducing a premium delivery service for this market in 2000 , New Era started to specialise in timed deliveries to difficult to access sites such as the Shard .

The construction market was hit in the recession but as things started picking up again , the company , which had already experienced reduced lubricants sales in the UK , further expanded its bulk gas oil / diesel fleet and began to partner with other fuel suppliers across the country to offer a nationwide delivery service .

“ Having been caught in the

14 Fuel Oil News | February 2018