BP petrol station where the first Albert Heijn to go once opened is revamped to OK
Catom will start renovating BP petrol station De Vink on the A20 motorway near Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel on Monday 11 May. The former BP flagship, in which the very first Albert Heijn to go opened after the Marks & Spencer debacle a decade ago, will continue in the look and feel of formula OK.
Catom has been revamping dozens of BP petrol stations in the Netherlands to the OK formula since 1 February 2026, the result of the company taking over BP’s mobility, convenience and pulse business in July 2025. Once the extensive renewal operation is completed, Catom will have more than 400 OK locations in the Netherlands, making it one of the largest petrol station formulas in the country.
The renewal of large numbers of BP locations to the OK formula is in full swing. From the start, Catom was the first to convert BP service stations in North Brabant and Zeeland to OK in the months of February and March. BP express in Kaatsheuvel, BP Middellaan in Dongen, BP De Voldijn in Waalre and BP ‘t Hazennest in Tilburg were the first stations to be rebranded. BP De Hespelaar on the A59 near Made, BP De Voetpomp and BP De Vliete on the A58 motorway near Krabbendijke in Zeeland were the first motorway stations to be refurbished to OK.
Flagship
Following the renewal of some 50 BP service stations in the Netherlands now, BP De Vink on the A20 near Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel will have its turn from Monday 11 May. This motorway station, for many years BP’s flagship in the Netherlands, was the first petrol station in September 2016 to get a large manned shop according to the Albert Heijn to go formula. It would not stop there, as five more Albert Heijn to go’s were opened at BP petrol stations across the country in the following months.
Failed partnership
The launch of shop format Albert Heijn to go at BP petrol stations followed the failure of the British oil and gas giant’s partnership with retail chain Marks & Spencer. In the Netherlands, a total of six BP petrol stations were piloted with Marks & Spencer Simply Food products in 2013. These were locations in the Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht regions, including the BP on the A12 near Harmelen and BP Oude Haagseweg in Amsterdam. The intention was that, if successful, M&S Simply Food would be rolled out further. Due to disappointing results, the partnership with Marks & Spencer in the Netherlands was terminated back in 2015 and the products disappeared from the shelves.
BP De Vink then became the first petrol station in the Netherlands to open an Albert Heijn to go in September 2016.
With the revamp of BP De Vink to the OK formula, the price pole, awning and pumps, among others, will get the look of OK, but the Albert Heijn to go shop will remain for the time being. For a long time, it remained unclear what the takeover would mean for the shop formula at the petrol stations. In early December 2025, it was announced that the existing contract would continue at least until the end of 2026.
Takeover
The rebranding follows the acquisition of BP’s retail operations by Catom on 9 July 2025 and is part of BP’s previously announced $20bn divestment programme. Catom said at the time that the acquisition offers the company the opportunity to accelerate the expansion of its existing retail network, further strengthening its market position.
Also read:
- Not all BP petrol stations to be rebranded to OK: Vissers Energy in Wittem continues as Shell
- OK rebranding colours awnings and cheeks red
- After demolition of BP service station Galgenwaard, Utrecht still has three BP filling stations
