The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) is to continue as the representative body for independent forecourt operators. The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) today said that, following a full strategic review, it had been decided that the PRA would continue to be the voice of the industry. In a statement entitled "PRA – 2009 and beyond", the RMIF stated: "The role of the Petrol Retailers

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed Gordon Brown's refusal to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol. Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson had previously called upon the government to adopt the measure in a bid to tackle alcohol related harm. He suggested a 50p

The Automobile Association (AA) today met Treasury ministers to argue that next month's 2p rise in fuel duty should be scrapped. A spokesman for the AA said the planned 1.84p extra duty the government plans to introduce on April 1 would mean more hardship for motorists. With the VAT on top of extra

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has announced it on-stand vote taken as part of the International Forecourt and Fuel Equipment show

BP has launched a refresh program for its Connect stores in the UK, with work underway at four trial sites. The oil

Murco Petroleum has strengthened its forecourt shop team with the appointment of Gary Pearce as network manager, shops. Gary takes over from

There are plenty of positives for petrol retailers to focus on – despite the recession – when considering prospects

The latest figures from the Energy Institute's annual retail marketing survey, published this month, shows an increase in the number of petrol forecourts operating in the UK.

== New-look magazine ==

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) says it is boosting the energy drinks sector this spring with the launch of a new variant - Relentless juiced energy berry.

Tropicana has refreshed its on-the-go offering with the launch of three new flavours to spearhead growth in the impulse channel and drive retailer profits. The latest additions to the single-serve range are: orange & mango; mango, peach & papaya; and passionfruit, pear & apple. Brand owner PepsiCo expects them to further grow Tropicana's impulse market share, replicating the success of Tropicana original and Tropicana smooth.

Swedish Match is giving away Swan Silver ultra fine king-size papers and classic Swan tins.

The Wrigley Company is giving away one prize - worth £250 - of a selection of products from its top-selling ranges: Extra, the number one sugar confectionery brand (AC Nielsen MAT to w/e 27/12/08); Airwaves; and Orbit Complete.

When Kandasamy Nirmalan decided to make a stand against people using his London forecourt as a free car park he had no idea how much potential damage it would do to his business. But it resulted in a customer being ordered to pay £465, staging a sit-in and motorists being urged to boycott all BP sites.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: The BP Connect/Marks & Spencer Simply Food forecourt and shop at Popham on the A303 west shares the site with a Little Chef that was recently the focus of attention of Heston Blumenthal.

== Limited company annual accounts - steeper late filing penalties ==

== Headline news angers retailer ==

== Why was the CWA formed? ==

MRH (GB) is, by some distance, the biggest independent fuel retailer in the UK. Hence its number one ranking on Forecourt Trader's latest Top 50 Indies listing - where it looks like staying for some time to come.

== winner Gulf Retail Store Consultancy Programme ==

== Impulse Ice Cream Outlet sponsored by Wall's ==

A growing number of retailers are selling alcohol on their sites - and reaping the rewards.

Nowadays breakfast means different things to different people. Eggs and bacon at the weekend, toast and cereal in the week. Yogurt and fruit if you're watching your weight, and a croissant and coffee if you're in a hurry. And forecourt operators have to cater for all these menus. They need breakfast-to-go for commuters and workmen as well as at-home breakfast items for families. That means breakfast spans the food-to-go area, the grocery shelves as well as the chillers.

Everyone knows that chewing gum tastes great and minty gums freshen your breath, but it seems there's much more to it than that.

When it comes to chilled and frozen foods, it's always chilled that takes the limelight. It's seen as profitable and exciting but in these straitened times it seems that more consumers are turning to frozen foods. Indeed according to AC Nielsen data, the frozen category is enjoying value and volume growth.

Autoglym has launched a major campaign to attract more independent retailers to use its products and services in their car washes.

The craze for everything natural is confirmed by the latest review from the Mintel Global New Products Database, which has found that 23% of all food and drink lines launched last year had a 'natural' claim. This was a 9% increase on 2007 figures.

Nestlé Confectionery is backing Aero with a £7m spend. The activity builds on last year's brand relaunch which included new packaging and targeted 16-35-year-old men and women.

Mars is boosting its ice cream sales support team to 300 reps from 15 - to maximise its impulse ice cream business which grew 10% last year. It has plans for a £1m ice cream-specific marketing spend that includes a new national advertising campaign, starting in May, and will be developed for both Mars and Snickers ice creams as the leading hero brands in 2009.

Golden Virginia Yellow is a new value-for-money addition to the popular handrolling tobacco range. It comes in 12.5g, 25g and 50g packs with recommended retail prices of £2.73, £5.35 and £10.59 respectively.

Walkers is launching Red Sky potato chips into the premium sharing category. The company says they offer "the best of nature" as they are made from 100% natural ingredients.

Juiced energy berry is the latest addition to Coca-Cola Enterprises' (CCE's) Relentless range. It contains 50% juice including strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant. It joins the existing origin, juiced energy tropical and inferno flavours and comes in a 500ml can. Relentless will be backed by a £6m marketing spend during the year.

An on-pack promotion on Magnum, which starts next month, will give consumers the chance to 'Win a Magnum Pleasure Card'. Each Pleasure Card is a prepaid MasterCard loaded with money (from £10 to £1,000) which winners can spend on whatever they want. There are over £1m-worth of Pleasure Cards available with 25 cards to be won every hour in April, May and June.

Ocean Spray is launching new advertising creatives this month across a variety of media as part of an ongoing £15m-plus total brand support package. It has also unveiled its biggest trade support programme to further develop its independent retail channels - The Ocean Spray Harvest Club. Promoted under the strapline 'Rewarding you for stocking Ocean Spray' the free-to-join scheme enables members to swap 'berry points' for branded POS, merchandise and gifts including digital cameras and iPods.

Westomatic Vending Services is inviting retailers to attend a series of workshops around the UK to learn more about its products. Each workshop is divided into two dedicated zones, technical and sales, to enable bespoke training.

Xmo Strata has launched a specialised sign valeting service which uses purpose-built VW Crafter vehicles carrying their own water tanks, cold pressure washers and hoses, lighting and a full health. The company says the £30,000 vehicles have one key advantage: they allow operators to clean hard-to-reach areas without the need for ladders, access equipment, or the need to be near a water tap.

WashTec is launching a raft of car washing equipment including a new roll-over car wash, jet wash range, turbo vacuum, and air and water tower. According to Dawn Frazer, WashTec marketing manager, improved features and services include better wheel washing, better drying and a deeper shine.

Dresser Wayne is bringing two new hi-tech products to the market this spring which it says are both aimed at UK independents.

It's a funny old world, Saint Greavesie used to say, and if he was talking about petrol retailing he was dead right. How things have changed round in the past 10 years, especially with regard to the almost total switch over to Platt's deals.