Vivo Energy
Vivo Energy is a pan-African fuel retailer and distributor licensed to operate Shell and Engen branded service stations across 28 African markets, serving retail motorists and commercial B2B customers in mining, transport, construction, power, and agriculture through over 3,900 stations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Vivo Energy does
Vivo Energy is a pan-African fuel retailer and distributor licensed to operate the Shell and Engen brands across 28 African markets, with headquarters in London and a primary operating entity domiciled in the Netherlands. Founded in 2011 and backed by Vitol Group, the company operates over 3,900 service stations, sells approximately 20 billion litres of fuel per year, and serves around 2 million customers daily through a network in which 95% of sites are operated by local dealer partners. Its product portfolio includes Shell and Engen retail fuels (Shell FuelSave, Shell V-Power, Engen unleaded and diesel), Shell-branded lubricants (Shell Helix, Shell Rimula, Shell Advance), LPG (Butagaz, Shell Gaz, Somagaz), Shell Card fleet services, and emerging EV charging infrastructure in Mauritius, Réunion, and Morocco.
Vivo Energy's business model is primarily a transaction-fee model on fuel and lubricant sales executed through two GTM motions: a sales-led approach targeting commercial B2B customers in mining, construction, transport, power, and agriculture, and a channel-partner motion delivering retail volume through the 3,900+ branded station network. Revenue is supplemented by non-fuel retail (convenience stores and quick-service restaurants including Pick n Pay, KFC, Wimpy, Java House, Chicken Inn, and Pizza Inn) and increasingly by technology services. The most recent expansion was the May 2024 acquisition of a 74% shareholding in Engen Limited from PETRONAS, which expanded the pan-African footprint and required the May 2026 Namibia divestiture of 52 stations to Nasan Energies as a regulatory remedy.
Vivo Energy's technology stack centers on the VE-CEM (Continuous Equipment Monitoring) platform, an AI-enabled Digital Twin system launched at Mining Indaba 2026 that processes real-time equipment sensor data (temperature, pressure, vibration) to deliver predictive maintenance under the Fluidlink service suite for mining customers. The company operates ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems certification (achieved in 2023 as the first African fuel retailer), complies with GDPR as its global privacy standard, and is investing $130 million to convert the former Durban refinery into a 300,000 cubic meter fuel storage facility scheduled for completion in Q3 2027. CEO Stan Mittelman, formerly Senior Vice-President for Africa at TotalEnergies Marketing & Services, has led the company since March 2022.
Vivo Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vivo Energy
- Legal name
- Vivo Energy Holding B.V.
- Website
- https://vivoenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Vivo Energy is a pan-African fuel retailer and distributor licensed to operate Shell and Engen branded service stations across 28 African markets, serving retail motorists and commercial B2B customers in mining, transport, construction, power, and agriculture through over 3,900 stations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vivo Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fuel Retail and Distribution
- NAICS
- Gasoline Stations (4571), Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals) (424720)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171), Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Unbranded/Spot Fuels Distribution (Rack Sales) (EUALAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retail & E-commerce Lubricants Sales (Auto Parts, Quick Lube, Online) (EUALAJAF), Lubricants, Fluids & Chemical Products Distribution (Oils, Coolants, AdBlue/DEF, Cleaners) (TLAKAOAL)
Keywords
Where Vivo Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vivo Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fuel Distribution: Sale of petroleum fuels through branded retail service stations and commercial B2B channels
- Lubricants: Sale of Shell and Engen branded lubricants to retail and commercial customers
- Non-fuel Retail: Growing non-fuel retail offering including convenience stores and related services at service stations
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Vivo Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vivo Energy sources, distributes, markets, and supplies Shell and Engen branded fuels and lubricants to retail and commercial customers across 28 African markets through over 3,900 service stations. The portfolio includes differentiated fuels (FuelSave, V-Power), lubricants (Shell Helix, Rimula, Advance), LPG, convenience retail, fleet card services, and commercial value-add solutions for mining, transport, power, and agriculture sectors.
Product overview
Vivo Energy is a pan-African fuel retailer and distributor operating Shell and Engen brands across 28 African markets through over 3,900 service stations. The company's product portfolio centers on retail and commercial fuels and lubricants (Shell Helix, Shell Rimula, Shell Advance for lubricants; Shell FuelSave, Shell V-Power, Engen Unleaded, Engen Diesel for fuels), complemented by non-fuel offerings including convenience stores, quick-service restaurants (Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, KFC, Java House, Wimpy), card services (Shell Card, Engen cards), LPG (Butagaz, Shell Gaz), and EV charging infrastructure. The company also offers technology solutions including VE-CEM (AI-enabled Digital Twin for predictive maintenance) as part of its Fluidlink mining service suite.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VE-CEM (Continuous Equipment Monitoring): AI-enabled Digital Twin system for real-time equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance for mining sector customers
- Shell FuelSave
- Shell V-Power
- Shell Advance
- Shell Helix
- Shell Rimula
- Butagaz
- Shell Card
Products and services
- Shell Retail Fuels
Companies that use Vivo Energy
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Vivo Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature2 records
Vivo Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PETRONAScorePETRONAS sold a 74% stake in Engen Holdings to Vivo Energy in 2023, creating a significant expansion of Vivo Energy's footprint in Southern African markets.
- ACWA PowerminorPartner in LNG-to-power project consortium, collaborating on energy infrastructure development projects across African markets.
- VTTIminorPartner in LNG-to-power project consortium, collaborating on energy infrastructure development projects across African markets.
- Didier Drogba FoundationminorCommunity partnership focused on social impact initiatives, leveraging Drogba's reputation for community development in Africa.
- Tharisa MinesminorCommercial fuel supply partnership with mining company, providing bulk fuel and lubricant solutions for mining operations.
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyminorMemorandum of Understanding signed for innovation partnership, focusing on research and development collaboration in energy sector technologies.
- ShellcoreBrand licensing agreement enabling operation of Shell branded retail service stations across African markets, providing brand recognition and operational standards.
- EngencoreBrand licensing agreement for Engen branded operations, further expanded through 74% acquisition of Engen Holdings.
- NASAN EnergiesminorDivested service stations to NASAN Energies as part of network optimization, maintaining distribution capabilities in specific markets.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vivo Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sasol: Sasol operates a significant retail fuel network in Southern Africa (Sasol Fuel) and is a major integrated fuels and chemicals producer. Overlaps with Vivo in South African retail fuel, lubricants, and commercial fuels serving mining/industrial customers.
- Mocoh: Mocoh is an independent physical commodity distributor with pan-African downstream fuel and lubricants operations including a growing service station footprint. Comparable business model of branded fuel distribution and B2B commercial supply across multiple African markets.
- Puma Energy: Puma Energy is the closest direct peer to Vivo Energy — a global downstream fuel retailer and distributor with significant pan-African operations across retail service stations, commercial fuels, and lubricants. Both compete head-to-head for retail fuel share and B2B contracts across multiple African markets.
- Astron Energy: Astron Energy is the successor to BP's South African downstream business, operating a major network of service stations across South Africa with a comparable retail fuel, convenience, and lubricants model. Direct competitor in the South African market following Vivo's enlarged footprint from the Engen acquisition.
- TotalEnergies Marketing & Services: TotalEnergies operates its own branded retail network across many of the same African markets as Vivo Energy, including service stations, lubricants, and commercial B2B fuels. Direct competitor for both retail motorists and industrial/transport customers in markets like Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Morocco.
Broad incumbents
- Galp Energia: Galp is an integrated energy company with a meaningful African retail and commercial fuels presence, including operations in Mozambique and other Lusophone African markets. Overlapping downstream fuel and lubricants business across selected African geographies.
Others
- Trafigura: Trafigura is a global commodity trader with significant African downstream and trading operations, and a parent/peer to Puma Energy. Comparable to Vitol (Vivo's parent) as an industry-shaping trading house backing pan-African fuel distribution infrastructure.
Regional players
- African Petroleum Plc: African Petroleum operates retail service stations and lubricants distribution in West Africa, including markets where Vivo operates (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone). Regional fuel retail peer with overlapping B2B and lubricants offerings.
- Sahara Group: Sahara Group is a leading African energy conglomerate with downstream operations spanning fuel retail, trading, and distribution across West and East Africa. Comparable in downstream fuel distribution and lubricants trading, though operating across a different geographic mix.
- Oando: Oando is one of Nigeria's largest integrated energy companies with downstream fuel retail and distribution operations. Comparable in business model (retail service stations, lubricants, commercial B2B) but focused primarily on the Nigerian market rather than pan-African.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vivo Energy social profiles
Digital presenceVivo Energy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Vivo Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vivo Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Vivo Energy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Vivo Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vivo Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vivo Energy
What does Vivo Energy do?
Vivo Energy sources, distributes, markets, and supplies Shell and Engen branded fuels and lubricants to retail and commercial customers across 28 African markets through over 3,900 service stations. The portfolio includes differentiated fuels (FuelSave, V-Power), lubricants (Shell Helix, Rimula, Advance), LPG, convenience retail, fleet card services, and commercial value-add solutions for mining, transport, power, and agriculture sectors.
Is Vivo Energy a public or private company?
Vivo Energy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Vivo Energy founded?
Vivo Energy was founded in 2011. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Vivo Energy based?
Vivo Energy is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Vivo Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Fuel Distribution is the primary driver. The others are lubricants and non-fuel Retail.
Who are Vivo Energy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sasol, Mocoh, Puma Energy, Astron Energy and TotalEnergies Marketing & Services. Galp Energia is listed as a broad incumbent. Trafigura is listed as an others. Regional players are African Petroleum Plc, Sahara Group and Oando.
Does Vivo Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vivo Energy.
What industry is Vivo Energy in?
Vivo Energy's product category is Fuel Retail and Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALAIAC, Unbranded/Spot Fuels Distribution (Rack Sales), with a secondary code of EUALAJAF, Retail & E-commerce Lubricants Sales (Auto Parts, Quick Lube, Online). Its NAICS code is 4571 and its SIC code is 5171.