New truck stop officially opens
Another link in the Allied Fuel network of stations serving the East Coast was officially opened on Millers St just on the outskirts of Dannevirke on Saturday.
With the Pongaroa station set up two years ago, Dannevirke joins Allied Fuel stations stretching from Te Araroa at East Cape to Mahia and in two weeks to Porongahau.
The site was purchased by Dan Phillips and partner Nicola of the Merrylees Hotel in partnership with Dan’s parents John and Wendy, thinking it was an ideal site for storage units. Five are currently under construction but the opportunity from Allied Fuels — a subsidiary of the HWR Group which also owns Mobil — was too good to ignore and a joint venture resulted setting up the truck stop.
Speaking for Allied Fuels, area sales manager Brett Collier says the site was a truck friendly spot and ideal for the company’s needs. The site supplies only diesel as there is a Mobil station in Dannevirke.
Along for the experience is Patrice Rodgers, owner of the Blue Maid Food Outlet. She will be on site five days a week supplying a wide variety of foods from burgers with real meat patties and toasted sandwiches to deep fried meals and every kind of hot drink.
With hours from 5.30am until 3pm Monday-Wednesday, extending to 6pm on Thursday and Friday, there is always good food available weekdays and Patrice is going to trial Saturdays. She says she has already had good trade since the site went live five weeks ago, truckies ringing her on 021 083 61472 ahead to order takeaways.
The official opening on November 30 was entirely sponsored by Allied Fuels with goodie bags and food available for a gold coin donation — the proceeds going to the St John Shuttle.