All Analysis articles – Page 20

  • Analysis

    Merril Boulton: editor

    2017-10-06T00:00:00Z

    Editor It’s been a very mixed month full of excitement about the Forecourt Trader Awards; but also filled with such shock and sadness at the sudden death of Nick Lloyd, a genuinely all-round great guy, known particularly in the forecourt sector for the seven years he worked with Jeremy Symonds ...

  • Analysis

    Kevin Eastwood: BOSS - executive director

    2017-10-06T00:00:00Z

    When I meet with forecourt retailers it is not uncommon to be told that they feel the police do not respond when they report incidents. Admittedly how each police force reacts to a report depends on each chief constable who determines how his or her force deploys their resources. Some ...

  • Analysis

    Charlotte Blum: Analysis editor

    2017-10-06T00:00:00Z

    The effects of Hurricane Harvey initially drove road fuel markets higher in North West Europe after it hit the US Gulf coast on August 25, but only diesel remains tight. Diesel prices have risen from a discount to a premium to gasoline, which has widened the usual UK retail premium ...

  • Analysis

    James Lowman chief executive, ACS

    2017-10-06T00:00:00Z

    At the end of September, we put our annual submission into government ahead of the Chancellor’s budget, setting out the measures that we believe will help the convenience sector in the coming year. You can read the submission in full on our website. There are three main areas that we ...

  • Analysis

    Tracy West: Shop Talk

    2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

    As an old bird, technology or rather what it can do can baffle my brain. However, even I am aware of the power of social media. And, if you’ve not yet embraced Facebook, Instagram or Twitter then Halloween gives you the perfect opportunity. Photos of brightly coloured displays or staff ...

  • Analysis

    Electric revolution: Ramsay MacDonald

    2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

    The demise of the combustion engine, signalled by recent announcements from almost all of the major car manufacturers, means in no uncertain terms that electric is the fuel front runner for the next generation of passenger cars. This creates a complex set of challenges but also exciting opportunities, both for ...

  • Analysis

    David Charman: Parkfoot Garage

    2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

    So now we know that our beloved petrol stations have an end date, or do they? I have been around this industry all my life, man and boy, and during that time I have witnessed some huge changes in our industry. Back in the early 1970s, I would have been ...

  • Analysis

    Brian Madderson: PRA chairman

    2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

    The most striking announcement of the summer was from Michael Gove on DEFRA’s policy on Clean Air. Conventional petrol and diesel combustion engines are to be banned in new cars from 2040, although hybrids will be permitted. Nevertheless this leaves PRA with much to do to protect and stimulate the ...

  • Analysis

    Merril Boulton: editor

    2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

    Whether it’s the right direction or not, we seem to be hurtling towards an electric future as far as automotive transport is concerned, and we at Forecourt Trader will, as always, endeavour to keep you informed of all the latest developments hence the particular focus on the subject in this ...

  • Analysis

    Charlotte Blum: analysis editor, Argus Media

    2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

    Hurricane Harvey may have poured out its record-breaking deluge 7,500km from here, but it will dominate fuel prices in the UK this month. Harvey, which hit the US Gulf coast on August 25 and caused major flooding after turning into a tropical rain storm, fully or partially closed refineries with ...

  • Analysis

    Action on slavery

    2017-09-15T00:00:00Z

    As many forecourt owners with car wash facilities know to their cost, unscrupulous hand car washes (HCWs), with no regard for labour laws or environmental regulations, can steal many of their customers away by undercutting legitimate businesses. Initially, the authorities seemed reluctant to tackle this scourge, but after intense lobbying ...

  • Analysis

    Shop Talk: Tracy West

    2017-08-03T00:00:00Z

    How times change. When I was growing up, you only got one type of milk and that came from a cow. Today you can get goats’ milk, almond milk, cashew milk, soya milk you name it and it seems you can milk it. My local Sainsbury’s now has a complete ...

  • Analysis

    Taking the long view

    2017-08-03T00:00:00Z

    The government’s long-awaited plan to tackle air pollution was always going to be controversial, after the High Court had dismissed earlier proposals as not good enough, and set a deadline of July 31 for it to come up with something better. But the media storm whipped up by its UK ...

  • Analysis

    Chris Hunt: UKPIA director general

    2017-08-03T00:00:00Z

    Since I last wrote this column, the UK’s General Election was held and the Queen’s Speech, on June 21, set out the government’s programme for the period between 2017 and 2019 and certainly life hasn’t got any less complex! Firstly, it was announced that Parliament will now sit for two ...

  • Analysis

    Merril Boulton: editor

    2017-08-03T00:00:00Z

    Calm down everyone I think! From the alarming headlines that preceded the government’s announcement last month on tackling air pollution to the more considered comment released by UKPIA’s director general, Chris Hunt (see News Extra on page 10), there were was a lot of shock and bewilderment in between. The ...

  • Analysis

    Ray Blake: technical manager PRA

    2017-08-03T00:00:00Z

    The latest Petroleum Regulations came into force from October 1, 2014 and allowed for a transitional period of three years for the Petroleum Licences that were in force at the time, to be converted by the Petroleum Enforcing Authorities (PEAs) into Petroleum Storage Certificates (PSCs). The three years have nearly ...

  • Analysis

    Merril Boulton: editor

    2017-07-10T00:00:00Z

    The drive towards a growing UK car parc of electric vehicles is gathering momentum by the day, particularly with last month’s Queen’s Speech in which the government reinforced its determination to develop the electric and hydrogen-powered vehicle sector (see News Extra, page 10). But also with the regular announcements by ...

  • Analysis

    Who foots the Bill?

    2017-07-10T00:00:00Z

    The government’s vision for the future of the road travel, which was outlined in the Queen’s Speech, contained both reassurance and potential threats for the forecourt sector. The good news is that the government is clearly confident about the future of the forecourt sector, as it features in a pivotal ...

  • Analysis

    Charlotte Blum: analysis editor, Argus Media

    2017-07-10T00:00:00Z

    Crude futures prices fell below $45/bl at one point in June for the first time since November, as demand growth has been slow. UK retail prices are following with their usual lag. In a sign that rebalancing the market is proving harder than first thought, Opec members are starting to ...

  • Analysis

    James Lowman: ACS chief executive

    2017-07-10T00:00:00Z

    After such an unexpected (for most) General Election result, it’s no surprise that Theresa May followed up with a scaled-down Queen’s Speech. But within the speech, there was still one important piece of legislation mentioned that will have direct implications for the forecourt sector. That was the Automated and ...