South Australian store chain could replace Coles Express around Australia

It could soon be time to say goodbye to the familiar sight of a Coles Express at your local servo, with one major fuel retailer awaiting approval for a new merger with a South Australian store chain.

Viva Energy is waiting for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to rule on its proposed merger with OTR, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported.

The decision is expected next month.

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Viva is building a network of convenience petrol stations around the country that it would rebrand Coles Express locations with the OTR label if the deal is approved.

"We intend to take the OTR offer and brand nationally by implementing this progressively across the existing Coles Express network and within all stores that get opened over the coming years," Viva chief executive Scott Wyatt said when the deal was announced earlier this year.

"OTR will be our flagship convenience brand, replacing Coles Express over time, and very much representing the future of our convenience business."

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Over the next three years the combined group aims to build a network of nearly 1000 convenience stores, and more than 250 specialty stores across Australia, employing more than 12,000 people.

OTR's website says the company has 180 stores across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and Western Australia.

As well as groceries and petrol, the stores also serve food from major brand such as Subway, Hungry Jacks and Oporto.