Te Puke's fuel station competition is set gain an extra competitor next month with Gull busily preparing to pump its way into the township.

Earthworks and construction are well underway at the Jellicoe St site, between Western Bay Hire and a former hire company beside Bob Batchelor Motors, ahead of the expected opening.

Construction is underway on the Gull's drive-through site in Jellicoe St. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Gull's retail development and sustainability manager Karl Mischewski can't wait to be able to offer fuel in Te Puke, currently holding a service station in Paengaroa and an unmanned site in Papamoa.

'Fingers crossed it should begin to take shape in the coming weeks.”

The unmanned site will offer – Regular and Force 10 (98 octane) and diesel on four multi-product dispensers – with payment at outdoor payment terminals similar to the Parton Rd site in Papamoa, which opened last July.

It will be in a box configuration opposed to a line of dispensers as in Papamoa.

Te Puke currently has BP and Z service stations on Jellicoe St.

Karl admits unmanned drive-through sites are currently in hot demand and Gull is more than happy keep up with the play.

'Well I think it's just building the stores; unless you are going to sell a lot of goods out of these stores, it's a hard road to hoe.

'People just want fuel and they want it quickly. And the market seems to be enjoying that, so that's what we are building.

'We know it's going to get a bypass but there is a good population in Te Puke.”

The site is expected to be open business in mid to late March.

Gull, New Zealand's first independent full retailer, also has unmanned sites in Merivale, Whakamarama and Papamoa.