Sainsbury’s petrol stations in Ballymena and Coleraine to become GO forecourts as sale of eight NI sites confirmed
Sainsbury’s petrol station in Ballymena, one of eight sold and set to be rebranded to LCC’s Go brand.
Thursday 15 October 2026
Sainsbury’s is to sell its petrol stations in Ballymena and Coleraine as part of a major deal covering all eight of the supermarket chain’s forecourts across Northern Ireland, with the sites set to be rebranded and converted to self-service Pay at Pump facilities.
The retailer confirmed on Thursday (15 October) that it has signed an agreement to transfer ownership and operation of the petrol stations to a purchaser trading as GO Forecourts.
Customers have been reassured that the stations will continue operating as normal while preparations for the transfers take place, with no redundancies proposed as a result of the agreement.
Changes planned for Ballymena and Coleraine
Both the Ballymena and Coleraine petrol stations are included in the sale, which will see the existing forecourts modernised through what Sainsbury’s describes as significant investment by the new operator.
The sites will be rebranded as GO and converted into self-service Pay at Pump petrol stations, changing how motorists purchase fuel at the locations.
Sainsbury’s has not disclosed the financial value of the agreement, the investment planned for individual sites or when the Ballymena and Coleraine forecourts will transfer to their new operator.
All eight Northern Ireland petrol stations affected
The agreement covers the following locations:
• Sainsbury’s Ballymena Petrol Station
• Sainsbury’s Coleraine Petrol Station
• Sainsbury’s West Belfast Petrol Station
• Sainsbury’s Forestside Petrol Station
• Sainsbury’s Holywood Exchange Petrol Station
• Sainsbury’s Sprucefield Petrol Station
• Sainsbury’s Bangor Petrol Station
• Sainsbury’s Dungannon Petrol Station
The transfer process is expected to take place gradually over the next six to twelve months, with each site moving to the new operator separately once the necessary arrangements have been completed.
No redundancies proposed for affected staff
Sainsbury’s has confirmed that employees affected by the sale will remain with the supermarket business rather than transfer to the new petrol station operator.
The company says those colleagues will continue to be employed at existing nearby Sainsbury’s stores, with no redundancies proposed as part of the agreement.
Caroline Holroyde, Sainsbury’s Director of Petrol and Kiosk, said:
“This agreement represents a major opportunity to upgrade and modernise these sites with the investment that the acquisition will bring. Over the coming months, we will prepare for our petrol stations in Northern Ireland to transfer to the new owner – in the meantime, they will continue to operate as normal for customers.
“We’re pleased to confirm that all affected colleagues will remain employed by Sainsbury’s at nearby stores and we are not proposing any redundancies as part of today’s announcement.”
Supermarket expansion continues across Northern Ireland
The decision to sell the petrol station estate comes as Sainsbury’s prepares to expand its supermarket operations in Northern Ireland, including two new stores planned for former Homebase premises.
The retailer expects to open its new Omagh supermarket in November, while a second store is planned for Crescent Link Retail Park in Derry/Londonderry.
Sainsbury’s says the developments represent multimillion-pound investments at each location and are expected to create hundreds of jobs for local people.
Ms Holroyde said the company believed the petrol station agreement represented the best outcome for its Northern Ireland forecourt business.
“We believe this deal represents the best possible outcome for our petrol station estate in Northern Ireland. We’re looking forward to realising the benefits it represents, while at the same time bringing more of the best Sainsbury’s has to offer to Northern Ireland as we invest in opening two exciting new supermarkets here.”
Transfers expected over the next year
Following the signing of the agreement, Sainsbury’s and the purchaser will now complete the additional steps necessary to begin transferring the eight petrol stations.
The retailer expects all transfers to be completed within six to twelve months, although no individual site timetable has yet been announced.
For motorists in Ballymena and Coleraine, the immediate position remains unchanged, with both petrol stations continuing to operate normally until their respective transfers take place. The longer-term change will see the familiar Sainsbury’s forecourts replaced by GO-branded, self-service fuelling facilities.
