The group no longer runs forecourts in the UK.
Billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa are shifting their petrol station empire from Blackburn to America ahead of a stock market flotation.
EG Group confirmed it plans to relocate its global headquarters to Charlotte, North Carolina, while moving its remaining UK operations to Bolton, Greater Manchester.
The move marks the end of an era for the business, which has been based in Blackburn for almost 25 years.
The Lancashire town has been at the centre of the brothers’ rags-to-riches rise.
They recently submitted plans to build one of Britain’s largest cemeteries near Blackburn, alongside a mosque and a series of mega mansions close to their childhood home in the Brookhouse area.
EG’s relocation comes ahead of an expected £9.7 billion flotation on the New York stock exchange. America is now the company’s biggest market, generating most of its revenues.
The group no longer runs forecourts in the UK.
In 2024, Zuber Issa bought its remaining British sites and spun them into a separate business, EG On The Move, which remains headquartered in Blackburn.
The Issa brothers each hold a 25% stake in EG Group, with private equity firm TDR Capital owning the remaining half. TDR is also best known as the private equity backer of struggling supermarket Asda.
An EG Group spokesman said: “As stated at our results on August 20, we are moving our European shared service centre from Blackburn to Bolton, Greater Manchester.
“This will enable us to recruit new and retain existing talented UK colleagues.”
The company added that moving to Bolton would keep “the company’s roots in the north-west of England while ensuring its office footprint reflects EG Group’s reduced presence in the UK and Europe”.
Mohsin Issa stepped down as chief executive earlier in 2025, with former chief financial officer Russell Colaco taking control.
The brothers are still reported to live locally and remain active in the community. But the decision to float the business in New York has divided opinion.
Zuber Issa is understood to have argued that the group should sell its £3.7 billion US arm instead of pursuing a public listing.
Founded as Euro Garages, the company grew rapidly as the Issas bought up forecourts from firms such as Esso.
In 2016, they merged with European Forecourt Retail Group, owned by TDR Capital, creating a major international petrol station operator. The group then expanded across the US.
Much of that expansion was funded with cheap debt during a period of low interest rates. As rates rose after the pandemic, the Issas were forced to sell assets to ease pressure.
In 2021, the brothers moved into supermarket retail, buying Asda with TDR. Since then, Mohsin Issa has stepped back from running the supermarket, while Zuber Issa sold his 22.5% stake to TDR.
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