Jamaican gas retailers pumping up own brands

SEVERAL of the 'seven sisters' of the petroleum industry, such as Shell, Esso and Texaco, have dominated the Jamaican gasoline retail trade for decades. However, local players have forced their way onto the scene in recent years, gnawing at the market share of the multinational integrated oil giants.

A picture of the change is painted throughout the streets of Kingston where, dotted among the foreign brand names that once monopolised the industry, are local trademarks such as Michael's, Johnson's, Epping and Unipet (United Petroleum Jamaica).