Our Story

From 1962 until today, we’ve been leaders in fuels and lubricants supply throughout Northern Ireland.

A fuel delivery truck labeled W.R. Kennedy & Co parked near a storage or service building with signage and a remote control panel, under partly cloudy skies.

Driven by family

From 1962, when William Robert (Bertie) Kennedy established WR Kennedy until today, we have been a family business driven by a desire to be a supply partner you can count on to power business performance.

Throughout our expansion and development over the decades, we have never moved away from the values that underpinned our company - loyalty, family, friendly service and delivering quality products to local people. We distribute premium Texaco home heating oil, and commercial fuels along with automotive, agricultural and industrial lubricants across the province.

Today, Bertie’s son Terence and grandson Niall continue to drive the business forward, with hard work, loyalty, and genuine care for people. The industry has changed over the decades, and no doubt it will continue to do so, but the company’s commitment to its customers and community remains as strong as ever.

Three men in business attire standing in front of a large truck.
A woman sitting in the driver's seat of a red utility truck, holding the steering wheel and smiling at the camera.
Talk to us about your needs

Our History

  • Text describing the creation of W.R. Kennedy & Company by William Robert (Bertie) Kennedy in 1962.
  • Text indicating that in 1979, operations were moved from Cushendall Road to Pennybridge Industrial Estate.
  • Text reading '1990 Bertie's son Terence joins the W.R. Kennedy team.' with a red circle icon.
  • 1998 purchase of site adjacent to main fuel depot for Ballymena's first automated refueling station for cars and HGVs.
  • A timeline entry from 2003 stating that offices were extended to accommodate additional sales and admin staff, with a red dot icon on the left.
  • A graphic with a red circle, the year 2005 in red, and text that reads 'Modern loading bay built and commissioned at Pennybridge site.'
  • A presentation slide with a red circle, the year '2022' in red, and text that reads 'Bottom Loading technology and additional storage introduced'.
  • Text about the redevelopment of a Texaco petrol station into a full Texaco-branded retail site, projected for 2024.
  • A graphic highlighting the year 2025 with text about investing in technology for improved deliveries and customer satisfaction, including live delivery confirmations.

Meet the Team

  • A middle-aged man with glasses and short gray hair sitting at a conference table, wearing a light blue checkered shirt, with a promotional poster in the background.

    Terence Kennedy

    Director

  • A man sitting at a table in front of a white brick wall and a poster about performance oils.

    Niall Kennedy

    Director

  • A middle-aged man with gray hair wearing a pink checkered shirt and a black puffer vest standing in front of a white brick wall.

    Thomas Gilmour

    Sales Manager

  • A middle-aged man with short gray hair and blue eyes sitting at a desk in an office. He is wearing a white and blue striped dress shirt and smiling at the camera. Behind him there is a large window with a view of trees and a building outside, and on the desk there is a black telephone.

    Ivor Buick

    Sales Manager

  • A smiling man in a light blue button-up shirt standing in a warehouse or store, with large blue and black barrels labeled "Delo" and "Texaco" behind him.

    Mark Bill

    Lubricant Sales

  • A bald man wearing a navy polo shirt with a Texaco logo sitting at a desk in an office.

    Trevor McCaw

    Sales Manager

  • A middle-aged man with glasses sitting in an office chair near a window, wearing a blue collared shirt, looking at the camera.

    Chris Glasgow

    Sales Manager

Looking forward

From that first Thames Trader to today, the fleet has come a long way. W.R. Kennedy & Company now runs 19 delivery vehicles, with new investments made regularly to keep things modern and reliable.

All vehicles are fitted with modern electronic delivery and tracking systems, making metered deliveries easier, more efficient, and more precise than ever before.

The digital world has also transformed how we connect with our customers. From text message updates to emailed invoices and online access to services, the experience has become quicker, simpler, and more convenient. What once required a phone call or paperwork can now be done with just a tap, while still keeping that personal touch that sets the company apart.

And looking to the future, the business has even embraced alternative fuels such as HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), showing that while tradition is important, staying in step with the modern world is just as vital. It’s a blend of old and new: the same friendly service, but with the innovation needed to keep moving forward.

A Texaco gas station with a tanker truck refueling a black car, and a white truck parked nearby, under a canopy with the Texaco logo.
Worker in safety vest and gloves using a hose connected to a sanitation truck on a gravel pathway next to a fence with plants.

Get in touch

Ballymena 028 2565 6616
Larne / Carrick / Ballyclare 028 9334 4700
Ballymoney 028 7032 6080