Shahin history: How Adelaide’s servo kings changed a city’s face

The Shahin story all began in Woodville Park nearly 40 years ago. Since then it’s changed the face of Adelaide.

The OTR story started when Fred Shahin bought a single petrol station at Woodville Park way back in 1984 – which he didn’t even want to buy.

Yasser Shahin, reflecting on the company’s growth from that single site to more than 170 today, said his father had been an accomplished auditor for the United Nations.

The Shahins had fled civil unrest in the Middle East, and Fred decided to settle in Adelaide because of Mediterranean climate and topography reminded him of home.

But he struggled to find a job in his profession.

The Woodville Park site ticked two boxes however – it provided the family with an income, and it also had a house attached where they could live.

Charlie Shahin and Fred Shahin at their first servo at Woodville Park. Picture: Supplied

Charlotte Peters with Charlie Shahin and the first Woodville employee Hilmi El-Youssef at Woodville Park OTR. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Fathi “Fred” Khalil Shahin OAM

“He went from being an accountant to being a forecourt attendant, there was no self-service in those days,’’ Yasser said.

“He stood on the forecourt and pumped gas.’’

The business grew from that one site to a network of petrol stations, as well as the Smokemart and Giftbox retail stories, with Fred’s sons Yasser, Sam and Charlie all integral contributors.

The Shahin family’s Peregrine Corporation also has significant other business interests, not least The Bend motorsport park at Tailem Bend where more than $100m has been invested.

The key to the success of OTR, previously known as On The Run, is that, as Yasser puts it, it is a bit of a “life hack”.

Sam Shahin at the Bend Motor Sport Park in Tailem Bend. Picture: Matt Turner.

Yasser Shahin, Fred Shahin, Charlie Shahin and Sam Shahin Picture: Supplied

Rather than focus on low margin fuel retailing, based on lessons learned on overseas study tours starting more than 20 years ago, the company has diversified to provide high-level food offerings at its sites, state of the art car washes, much-loved Krispy Kreme doughnuts which it brought to SA, and convenience stores which are well-stocked and price competitive.

It is also underpinned by a sophisticated digital backbone, which customers experience via the OTR app which can be used for fuel purchases, to pre-order coffee and for loyalty rewards.

Yasser said on Wednesday the family had a huge sense of pride around what has been achieved over the past almost three decades, and was happy that the brand would not only live on, but grow and strengthen as it spreads across the nation.