Q2 results overshadow conflict with outlets

The growing conflict of PKN Orlen and its franchised retail outlets may soon overshadow the oil concern's very good second quarter financial results. Private petrol station owners co-operating with Orlen claim the company has broken contract conditions regarding the purchase of fuel at preferential prices. "We get a discount of zł. 20 for every tonne we buy from Orlen. But we can get discounts of zł. 50-60 if we buy the same Orlen fuel that is sold by, for example, Shell. Due to lack of agreement, many of us are thinking of turning to other sources of acquiring fuel," said Mirosław Kulak from the Domestic Association of Franchised Outlets of PKN Orlen. Sales director, Wojciech Radomski, claims that discounts were a part of a motivational program and the outlets could gain additional rebates if they were willing to spend saved money on modernizing their gas stations. He also said that if the owners bought fuel from other sources, then they could expect financial penalties and lawsuits. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 7) M.M