O
perator Harsha Nimrani is making a strong play with the opening of her latest business in London, Ont. Nimrani’s winning hand includes her partnership with Greenergy Canada and its Breakaway brand, as well as her development of an innovative new car wash that uses state-of-the-art technology. Already, she operates five other fuel and vehicle service sites in Ontario with a variety of gas brands, but this is her first with Breakaway and she is enthusiastic as the facility opened this January.
Top: Majestic Auto Wash offering great washes and even propane tank exchange from Mighty Flame. Bottom: Hockey themed forecourt sporting Wayne's Ovation Series B23/4 3+1 blender.
CCentral.ca
Nimrani reports that after coming to Canada in 2012, the family got involved with the service station business when her husband took on a job as an accountant at a location in Mississauga, Ont. “My husband and I agreed after our children were born that we needed to get into businesses of our own. We had experience with gas stations so there was a natural fit. My first location was in Niagara Falls and now I have five sites in Ontario and we are looking at two more this year,” she says commenting that she brings a background in banking and real estate to the business. Development on Nimrani’s new London Breakaway station began last September and lasted five months, with the opening in mid-January. What Nimrani has on offer is a triple threat site with c-store, gas bar and car wash. Under the Breakaway canopy, her new business features six gas dispensers with two diesel pumps. Fuel is provided by Greenergy, a growing supplier that launched Breakaway in 2018 and Inver in 2019. The c-store and gas bar are branded as a Breakaway location and come with all the bells and whistles. This includes Breakaway’s signature hockey-themed look and promotions in the c-store and under the canopy. Majestic Auto Wash features a 90’ tunnel Fusion Process wash, as well as detailing area. “This site was previously a Shell,” says Nimrani. “When we looked at this location we had interest from both Mobil and ESSO, but after our research, we decided to go with Greenergy and Breakaway. Early on we saw that they could do more for us and would be a more willing partner in our success,” she says, mentioning that the simple fact that Greenergy staff just pick up the phone when she calls was a big improvement over her experience with other fuel brands. “Breakaway gives us the flexibility to price match on fuel. This is important to us. We are competing as the best price option in this market and are selling 17,000 litres of fuel each day. It is the fuel quality and price that gets people onto our site where we can sell them other goods and services such as car wash and convenience products.” Here, Nimrani mentions the Breakaway c-store and points to the business as a key aspect that drives the location’s success. The c-store kiosk is approximately 200 square feet and is replete with sports themes throughout.
MAY/JUNE 2020
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