Change is underway at NT Puma service stations as OTR moves in

National service station and convenience store brand OTR is moving into the Territory - but it may not be immediately obvious. Find out why here.

Five Puma service stations across the Top End will close this evening from 6pm as OTR, the chain’s new owner, takes control of the operation.

The NT News understands stores at Howard Springs, Humpty Doo, Palmerston, Nightcliff and Whishart Road will close from 6pm as the transfer of ownership ratchets up.

The official transfer of title takes place at midnight on Friday, March 31, with OTR assuming ownership from April 1.

Eight other Puma stores across the Territory are also expected to close after midnight while internal changes are made to the floor layout.

Many stores are likely to be closed Friday with re-opening anticipated for first-thing Saturday morning.

There are 15 Puma branded stores across the Territory.

A Top End Puma service station - the business has been taken over. Picture: Che Chorley

Puma and OTR began talks on a possible sale late last year and the deal became public in January.

The partnership is not expected to immediately involve a change of branding from Puma to OTR.

The company, founded in South Australia, already has 180 outlets across SA, WA, Victoria and Tasmania bearing the distinctive OTR livery.

OTR has partnerships with a number of leading brands including Gusman Y Gomez, Krispy Kreme, HappyDogWash and Subway.

At the time the sale was announced, an OTR spokesman said the company was looking forward to the move north.

“OTR is looking forward to entering the northern Australian market and becoming part of the local community,” the spokesman said.

An OTR store in Greenacres, South Australia.

“We pride ourselves on being business builders, working collaboratively with the community, our suppliers and business partners, to deliver a best in market innovative and fresh approach to convenience retail.

“OTR is all about giving our customers choice and making life easy.

“Over the coming months OTR will announce new store offerings for the NT, which will include a range of OTR branded products.”

OTR formed in 1984 by Palestinian refugee Fathi (Fred) Shahin who purchased the Woodville Park service station in SA and an adjoining home.

Mr Shahin’s sons gradually took over the company and have expanded the business into other jurisdictions.

Chevron fuel will still be sold at all the Territory’s OTR outlets and Puma branding will remain in place – at least for the time being.

OTR has not said when, or even if, it will introduce its own branding into the Territory.

The purchase of NT Pumas by OTR coincided with an eruption of violence in Alice Springs, where the company has three stores.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese intervened in NT alcohol bans. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sabine Haider

Violence in the town escalated to such a degree that the Federal government and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were forced to intervene to reintroduce grog bans.

The company is understood to be concerned that OTR’s highly illuminated and brightly coloured stores could be a magnet for anti-social behaviour or vandalism.

Puma, which is owned by US-owned energy giant Chevron, first began branding in the Territory in 2012.

The acquisition of the service stations to OTR was viewed positively by operators with one telling the NT News in January that they welcomed the move.