HOCH Group Limited to be acquired by Roadside Real Estate PLC
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced that an agreement has been entered into for the acquisition of HOCH Group Limited by Roadside Real Estate PLC.
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The portfolio of 12 petrol stations and a standalone convenience store are predominantly located in Cumbria, in the North West of England.
A structured and confidential marketing campaign has been led by Andrew Birnie, Steve Rodell, and Josh Haines at Christie & Co, who are acting on behalf of the seller, HOCH Group Limited. The transaction reflects strong buyer demand for high-performing, regionally clustered petrol station businesses with secure property backing and clear growth potential.
The sale is expected to complete in Spring 2026.
Steve Rodell, Managing Director – Retail & Leisure at Christie & Co, commented, “The agreement of the sale of this portfolio demonstrates the continued appetite for well-located forecourt and convenience businesses with strong underlying trading and genuine opportunities for growth. HOCH Group Limited is a robust business with a secure property base, and we were delighted to achieve a successful outcome for our client. We ran a professional, structured process which attracted 13 initial group bids, giving choice and deal certainty to the Hill family and shareholders, which were important factors through the deal management phase.”
Andy Birnie, Director - Retail & Leisure at Christie & Co, has known the Hill family and fellow Directors for many years and added, “I am so pleased we have delivered this deal for the family, Michael Collin and Michael Gatty. They were patient and trusted our advice and were an absolute pleasure to work with.”
HOCH Group Limited said, “We would like to praise the hard work and professionalism of everyone within Christie & Co team, the Burnetts legal team, and Saint & Co team for their strategic advice, market insight, and hands-on management throughout the transaction to exchange of contracts.”
Charles Dickson, Chief Executive Officer of Roadside Real Estate PLC, commented on the agreement, “This transaction represents the next step of the Roadside journey to build a scalable, energy forecourt and convenience retail business in the UK. Hoch Group is a high-quality portfolio with unrealised potential and underscores management's commitment to creating shareholder value through the identification and delivery of operational and financial synergies derived from a scaled portfolio.”
Michael Walby, Jennifer Bell, Eleanor Baird and Rebecca Collihole of Burnetts Solicitors led the legal aspects of the transaction, and commented, “We are delighted to have advised our longstanding clients, the shareholders of HOCH Group Limited, on the sale of this successful petrol forecourt portfolio. It is a significant transaction and was made easier by all sell-side advisers working together to deliver the best possible result for the clients. We are confident that the company will continue to thrive as part of Roadside Real Estate PLC, and we wish them every success going forward.”
Lindsay Farrer and Sophie Graham of Saint & Co led the Saints Financial and Accounts team on the transaction, and commented, “It has been our pleasure to advise the shareholders of HOCH Group Limited on this significant transaction. It marks the culmination of many decades of hard work by the Hill family, fellow shareholders and their associates, and we are delighted with the outcome achieved.”
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