Shell Plans to Sell French Service Station Network

Shell plans to sell its network of about 60 service stations in France in a transaction that could be completed in early 2027, according to French daily Les Echos. The newspaper reported the development on Tuesday, citing a communication that the UK-based company shared with affected employees, suppliers and concessionaires.

Shell told workers' unions last month that it expects to find a buyer for the French service station network in the third quarter of this year. The company does not own the stations outright. They operate under multi-year concession contracts with highway operators including Vinci, Cofiroute and ASF.

Shell supplies fuel and related services to the stations in exchange for a fee. The Shell-branded locations posted an operating profit of about $127.5 million last year.

The move forms part of a years-long effort by Shell to streamline operations and focus on its core oil and gas business. The company has been reviewing its downstream retail portfolio in several European markets as it adjusts its global footprint. The planned sale would mark Shell's exit from the French fuel retail sector while the company continues to supply fuel through other channels in the country.

No potential buyers have been named and the transaction remains subject to negotiations and regulatory approvals. The communication to staff, suppliers and concessionaires outlined the planned divestment as a strategic decision rather than a response to financial underperformance at the French network.