UNO's Momento

You've probably seen the UNO signs up at gas stations in your area. And that's because the Central American company has taken over all the service stations that used to be Texaco - a total of 10.

Those stations have now been re-fitted, re-branded and reloaded with a type of fuel called UNO Pro.

The company was officially launched today at the gas station at mile one on the northern highway and we found out more about what's in the new name:

Jules Vasquez
"What's that brand, UNO?"

Andrea Eiley - Local Finance Officer, UNO Belize
"UNO is a regional brand that comes from Honduras. Our main office is Honduras, and we have our UNO brand in all of the Central American countries, including Belize."

Jules Vasquez
"What does the change represent for the people who've been used to the Texaco Gas Stations."

Andrea Eiley
"The UNO brand comes with quality products, which includes and additive in the premium, lubricants, and quality customer service at our stations."

Jules Vasquez
"And so, there is no premium anymore."

Andrea Eiley
"No, UNO Pro is our trademark for the premium with our UNO additive."

Jules Vasquez
"We've reported that you all get both the wholesaler's margin, and then the dealer's margin. So, you all are in fact taking 2 bites of the cherry, and in so doing, marginalizing the local Belizean dealers."

Andrea Eiley
"No, that's not true. What we're doing, it's a new platform, which we take over the fuel side of the business. The sea store - the convenience store - side of the business is still for the dealer. They still get their income from that portion of the business. From the fuel business, what we do - the new platform - is that we only get a part of the retail margin."

Jules Vasquez
"But it's chance-taking, Ms. Eiley, because I am saying that it's two bites at the cherry. The reason there is a wholesaler's margin is that so that you all, UNO, the wholesalers, get to take that. But you all aren't satisfied with that, so you want more."

Andrea Eiley
"No, actually, this isn't something new. In the past, Texaco, Chevron, Sol, and Esso have tried running their own stations, and getting the 2 margins. So, that is why we try to find a middle ground, a way for us to be able to make the company profitable because with the margins how they are right now, the wholesaler only gets a smaller than the retailer margin. And it's not profitable for us to operate with that small margin because of the business tax. We have to pay a bigger business tax than the retailer."

Jules Vasquez
"But you all are a huge multinational, and now, the dealers are local Belizeans, who are used to getthing their dealer's margin, and now, because the huge multinational is not satisfied with that one bite, it needs another bigger bite."

Andrea Eiley
"No, you see, that is the big misconception. All the service stations, all the equipment - everything - is ours. It's our investment. All we are doing is trying to get a return on our investment."

Vice President of the Terra Group, which owns UNO, Freddy Nasser Jr flew in by private jet for today's launch.

The Terra Group - one of the wealthiest in Honduras - is headed by his father, Nasser Sr.

Channel 7