Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL), an arm of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), on Wednesday launched its first company-owned company-operated (CoCo) retail fuel outlet — under the brand name Sooper — near its Manali refinery in North Chennai.
This marks the refiner’s renewed entry into fuel retailing after nearly two decades, with plans for retail outlets across India in phases.
In April, CPCL had launched its first dealer-operated retail outlet Nemam in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. The latest CoCo outlet at Mathur on Ennore High Road, close to the refinery complex, has been positioned as a flagship station, showcasing the company’s retail and downstream ambitions.
Growth strategy
Speaking to businessline on the rationale behind the entry into the retail business, CPCL Managing Director H Shankar said the company’s entry into retail fuel marketing signals a major shift in its long-term growth strategy.
The Mathur outlet has been developed at an estimated investment of over ₹5 crore, including land and infrastructure costs. Future flagship outlets are expected to include EV charging stations, CNG dispensing facilities and non-fuel retail operations as part of the company’s integrated mobility strategy, Shankar added.
The company had earlier operated a retail outlet near Sriperumbudur before it became part of the Indian Oil group, after which fuel marketing operations were largely handled by IOC.
“People know the refinery exists in Chennai, but they do not directly interact with CPCL as a brand. We wanted to create that public interface,” Shankar said.
The new retail initiative was conceptualised during CPCL’s diamond jubilee year in 2025. The proposal subsequently received approvals from the CPCL board, Indian Oil and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The company began implementation in August after obtaining government clearance in May last year.
Future plans
Shankar said CPCL has received approval to establish 300 retail outlets across India over a three-year period with a planned investment of around ₹400 crore.
The company has already secured additional no-objection certificates for several locations and is evaluating sites.
CPCL plans to adopt multiple operating models for expansion, including dealer-owned dealer-operated and company-owned dealer-operated formats apart from CoCo outlets.
Published on May 21, 2026