AS VIRŠI-A receives Competition Council approval for long-term lease of 17 Astarte-branded service stations

Energy commodities trader and convenience store network AS VIRŠI-A (hereinafter – Virši) announces that the Competition Council has approved the company’s planned transaction, under which Virši will acquire long-term lease rights to 17 service stations owned by SIA Naftimpeks and currently operating under the Astarte brand.

Virši plans to take over the stations in June and July. An extensive modernisation of all approved stations and their full integration into the Virši network is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Alongside infrastructure and visual upgrades, employees of the Astarte service stations will undergo training and gradually transition into the Virši team.

Following the takeover of these stations, the total number of Virši service stations will increase from 84 to 101. This marks a significant expansion of the company’s network, strengthening Virši’s presence across Latvia’s regions, increasing its turnover potential and improving service accessibility for customers.

“We are pleased to move into the next phase of this project, which involves substantial investments in the new stations to introduce the full range of Virši services and provide customers with a modern, convenient and high-quality service experience. An expansion of this scale will deliver significant growth in market share and support the achievement of our long-term strategic goals,” says Jānis Vība, Chairman of the Management Board of AS VIRŠI-A.

To ensure uninterrupted access to services, Astarte customers will continue to be able to use their existing loyalty cards and shop across both service station networks.

About Virši: 

Virši is a rapidly growing local energy commodities trader and convenience store network with more than 30 years of experience. Currently, Virši operates 84 service stations and has more than 900 employees throughout Latvia. Since 11 November 2021, the shares of AS VIRŠI-A have been listed on the Nasdaq Riga First North Alternative Market.