Former Forecourt Trader of the Year winner Jonathan James is to be the first independent retailer to pilot the Marks & Spencer Simply Food franchise. The trial
will take place at his Witchford Road Service Station, in Ely, Cambridgeshire, which he runs with his wife Rebecca.
The announcement was made during BP’s Dealer Convention, held in Oman last month.
In an interview on the proposed trial in Forecourt Trader’s October issue, Karen Hubbard, BP’s UK convenience retail director, said there would be only one trial site: "It is not an easy operation – in fact i would say it’s probably one of the most complex of operations because you have the complexity of fuel with Wild Bean, as well as M&S."
Work will start on the store development early next year, and it is expected to open for business in the first half of 2009.
There are currently 113 M&S Simply Food stores on company-owned BP sites alongside the BP Connect and Wild Bean Café offers.
Former Forecourt Trader of the Year award winner Jonathan, of James Graven & Sons, is also vice chairman of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
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