I am not the best at keeping a secret, I dont really like them but on occasions they are a necessary evil. Now the cat is really out of the bag with regard to the acquisition by Consols Oils of Bennetts Fuels life will hopefully resume a more normal pace. Not being your normal run of the mill ‘tycoon’ takeovers are not an everyday event. Over the years we have been approached by a couple of suitors which is flattering, but being ‘out of town operations’ although the price on the table was good my parochial instincts dictated that the offers were turned down.  It is a common phenomenom to see  long established worthwhile little oil firms swallowed up by much larger National operations and instantly subsumed into the corporate one size fits all culture which increasingly threatens diversity, individuality and customer choice.

In this case it was different and I have been priveliged to acquire a company originally founded by my Great Grandfathers rich relations. Locally it was for many decades an economic powerhouse involved in shipping,coal, and oil. The oil division was absorbed by a major oil company known in irreverent quarters as Bo Peep. After a couple of less than sucessful name changes it ended up in the maw of an aggresive testosterone fueled outfit from Wales who once more morphed into the ownership of another major oil company known in oleagenous circles as the ‘Knightsbridge Snail’ before decamping to Docklands.

In the meantime in sleepy Penzance the descendents of Bennetts senior had managed to lose their grip on the rest of the empire when it was sold to a young entrepreneur who turned it into a highly successful mini conglomerate which moved back into oil distribution. The Bennetts brand having endured ignomy and oblivion in the hands of the majors proved enduring and the new operation prospered. The secret was an ultra low cost base which I would give my right arm for. This model was ideal in a climate of low oil prices and plentiful supplies, it made my expensive storage depot seem like an albatross around my neck.

However as always what goes around comes around, costly regulations, rising prices and potential product shortages indicated the requirement to invest in a now eye wateringly expensive fuel storage facility. Having other irons in the fire offering better returns a decision was taken to market Bennetts Fuels, getting wind of this a very spur of the moment decision to purchase the business was taken leading to a deal in which every participant is a winner.

On Monday morning the tankers and staff arrived at their new base in St Day. The place has latterly seen various clandestine meetings, been invaded by assorted IT bods, telephone engineers, stationery sales people,you name it we have needed them PDQ and alll sworn to secrecy.

The buzz has been palpable, I felt a little like I did in the very early days when work was actually enjoyable, everything has been signed sealed and delivered in exactly a month. All was achieved during a busy spell and my respect for everyone involved knows  no bounds. Yesterday the Bennetts brand was added to our artic which has elicited a reassuringly peppery reaction from a competitor west of Penzance. Today has seen a photo call at the yard by our PR consultants as they prepare the press release, I have enjoyed my self so much I could really get into this tycoon lark.