When was Shell Select founded?

The first standalone Shell Select store opened in London in December 1998, though Shell had operated fuel-station shops earlier. The format expanded globally through the 2000s.

How many Shell Select stores are there?

Select operates at Shell service stations across more than 40 countries. Shell does not publish a separate Select store count, but the total Shell retail network covers roughly 47,000 sites.

Is Shell Select a franchise?

Select is Shell's owned format brand. Many Shell stations operate under dealer or franchise agreements, but the Select name, standards, and product range are controlled by Shell.

What does Shell Select sell?

Select stores sell convenience items including food, drinks, groceries, coffee, and car accessories, with format variations such as Shell Cafe and deli2go in different markets.

Retail & E-commerce

Who Owns Shell Select?

Q: Who owns Shell Select?

Shell Select is owned by Shell plc, the London-headquartered energy company listed on the London Stock Exchange and NYSE under ticker SHEL.

Shell Select is owned by Shell plc, the British-Dutch energy company listed on the London and New York stock exchanges. Launched as a standalone convenience store format in London in 1998, Select operates at Shell service stations across more than 40 countries, offering food, drinks, and services alongside fuel, with the broader Shell retail network spanning roughly 47,000 sites worldwide.

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Parent Company

Shell plc

Founded

1998

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom (parent Shell plc)

Shell Select Timeline

1907

Shell plc

Parent company established in London, United Kingdom

Company Founded

1998

Shell Select

Founded by Royal Dutch Shell

Founded

mid rangemass marketGlobalOfficial Website

Who Owns Shell Select?

Parent Company: Shell plc
Ownership Type: Brand division
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: London Stock Exchange: SHEL

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Shell Select	Shell plc	Brand division

History of Shell Select

Founded: 1998
Founders: Royal Dutch Shell

Shell piloted its first dedicated convenience stores in the mid-1990s as European fuel retail shifted toward non-fuel sales. The first standalone Shell Select opened in London in December 1998, establishing a format distinct from the basic fuel station shop.

Select expanded through the 2000s across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, positioning as a step up from the traditional kiosk shop: fresh food, coffee, groceries, and services alongside fuel. The format adapted by market, with Asian locations often larger and more food-focused than European sites.

Through the 2010s Shell integrated Select with its loyalty programs, mobile payment, and the Shell Cafe and deli formats in key markets. The brand coexists with deli2go and other market-specific shop names across the global estate.

Shell's 2020s energy transition pushed Select toward electric vehicle charging hub retail and expanded food service, as the company positions station retail as a cash-generating business independent of fuel demand.

About Shell plc

What does Shell own?
Shell operates across oil and gas exploration and production, LNG, refining, chemicals, and retail energy. The company owns approximately 46,000 retail service stations globally, major LNG production facilities in Australia, Malaysia, Nigeria, and other countries, refineries and chemical plants in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and the Shell Recharge EV charging network. Shell also owns lubricant brands including Shell Helix and Pennzoil.

Is Shell publicly traded?
Yes, Shell plc trades on the London Stock Exchange and NYSE under ticker symbol SHEL. The company has no controlling shareholder, with ownership distributed among institutional investors including BlackRock, Vanguard Group, and State Street Global Advisors, alongside individual shareholders globally. Shell's annual report and Form 20-F for FY2025 were filed on March 12, 2026.

What is Shell's annual revenue?
Shell reported total revenue of $266.9 billion for FY2025, down from $284.3 billion in FY2024. Income for FY2025 was $18.1 billion, up from $16.5 billion in FY2024. Adjusted earnings were $18.5 billion, and cash flow from operating activities was $42.9 billion. The decline in adjusted earnings from $23.7 billion in FY2024 reflects a lower oil and gas price environment.

Who is Shell's CEO?
Wael Sawan has served as Chief Executive Officer of Shell since January 2023, succeeding Ben van Beurden. Sawan is a Lebanese-Canadian executive who joined Shell in 1997. He previously led the Integrated Gas and Renewables and Energy Solutions segments. Under his leadership, Shell has focused on capital discipline, cost reduction, and shareholder returns, achieving $5.1 billion in cumulative structural cost savings by the end of FY2025.

What is Shell's history?
Shell traces its origins to the 1907 merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company, founded in 1890 in the Netherlands, and Shell Transport and Trading Company, founded in 1897 in the United Kingdom. The merged company, Royal Dutch Shell, became one of the world's largest oil companies. In January 2022, Shell simplified its dual structure into a single company, Shell plc, headquartered in London. The company has operated for more than 115 years.

How many gas stations does Shell operate?
Shell operates approximately 46,000 service stations globally under the Shell brand, making it one of the world's largest retail fuel networks. The company is investing in EV charging infrastructure through Shell Recharge to serve customers transitioning to electric vehicles. The retail network is a core component of Shell's Marketing segment and provides a direct consumer-facing presence in more than 70 countries.

Founded: 1907
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: London Stock Exchange: SHEL
Revenue: $266.9 billion (FY2025)
Employees: ~85,000

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Where Is Shell Select Made / Based?

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom (parent Shell plc)

Shell Select Categories & Tags

Convenience Stores Gas Stations Food Retail Shell European Brand Global Retail

Shell Select Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Backed by one of the world's largest retail footprints
+Direct access to captive fuel and EV charging customers
+Global format standards with local market flexibility
+Shell's brand recognition drives shop traffic
+Growing EV charging business adds dwell time for retail

Considerations

-Shop economics remain tied to fuel station traffic
-Limited standalone brand identity outside Shell fuel sites
-Convenience market increasingly competitive with delivery apps
-Dealer and franchise sites create format consistency challenges
-Energy transition introduces long-term demand uncertainty

Frequently Asked Questions About Shell Select

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Shell Select

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
ampm	Bp	United Kingdom (parent BP)	1978	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Alltown	Global Partners	USA	2012	Mass market	Regional	All Genders
Cenex	Chs	USA	1983	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Global Partners	Global Partners	USA	1933	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Honey Farms	Global Partners	USA	1920	Mass market	Regional	All Genders
Sunoco	Energy Transfer	USA	1886	Market leader	United states	All-consumers