This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on August 4, 2016.

KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd, the retail arm of Shell Malaysia, is targeting to open over 20 new fuel stations across Malaysia this year to maintain its leading position in terms of market share.

“Currently, we have over 900 stations and for this year, we plan to add over 20 stations all over Malaysia. About a third of the stations have already been opened,” said its managing director Datuk Azman Ismail. Azman, however, declined to reveal the total amount to be invested in new stations.

He added that while the group is still focusing on improving its products, Shell Malaysia will be putting more emphasis on improving its services.

“We want to make sure we have a good split between improvement in the non-fuel segment and fuel segment. We are already on that journey,” he said, adding that the group had launched the “food oasis” concept at some of its existing outlets, with more outlets to be upgraded this year.

Azman spoke to the media yesterday, on the sidelines of the unveiling of Shell Malaysia’s “Celebrating 125 Years” art project involving famous artists such as Datuk Lat, Cheeming Boey, Sabek, Yap Hanzhen, Amey Sheikh Ali, Caryn Koh, Tom Powell and Dmojo.