All Analysis articles – Page 25

  • Analysis

    Top of the class

    2016-03-04T00:00:00Z

    Despite a surge of more than 300 in the total number of sites run by the Top 50 in last year’s report, the independent sector’s appetite for growth showed no sign of slackening with an even greater increase over the most recent 12 months. After reaching 1,762 last year, the ...

  • Analysis

    David Charman - chairman CWA

    2016-03-04T00:00:00Z

    The 2016 rates valuation is something the whole industry is worried about, but not, it seems, the hand car washers. Yet again so many of them will not be listed or if they are, no proper investigation will have taken place to ensure that they pay their correct rates. It’s ...

  • Analysis

    Brian Madderson - chairman PRA

    2016-03-04T00:00:00Z

    I would not place a bet on the next movement of Brent Crude having listened to many hours of detailed presentations from some of the most experienced analysts in the industry during International Petroleum Week there are just too many variables. What is irrefutable is that OECD stocks have risen ...

  • Analysis

    Merril Boulton:Top 50 - a decade on

    2016-03-04T00:00:00Z

    Another successful Top 50 Indies dinner took place last month, and as we reach a milestone 10 years of the report, I thought it would be interesting to look back at the launch of the listing, which was first published in 2006. As you can imagine, it makes for very ...

  • Analysis

    Top 50 Indies own 25% of UK sites

    2016-03-04T00:00:00Z

    The Top 50 Indies now account for almost 25% of the forecourts in the entire UK market, according to Forecourt Trader’s latest report on the biggest independent retailers.Editor Merril Boulton told an audience of more than 150 at the 2016 Top 50 Indies Dinner that between them they added 361 ...

  • Analysis

    Shop Talk - Tracy West

    2016-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Our esteemed editor Merril Boulton loves a Sherbet Lemon and Bassett’s are her favourite, so she was delighted with the news that brand owner Mondelez is promoting ’adult candy’ via a major relaunch. She’s hoping her favourites will then be more widely available. Whenever I see them in a shop, ...

  • Analysis

    Peter Harding - retail consultant

    2016-02-01T00:00:00Z

    This year will see many changes in the provision of point-of-sale systems in the UK. Torex/Micros/Oracle seems to have passed the mantle for sales to other parties and several have taken partnerships with Oracle for the supply of systems at various different levels. But a word of caution when seeking ...

  • Analysis

    Merril Boulton: MRH - from bust to boom

    2016-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Big news that the owners of MRH have sold the business to US private equity company Lone Star (see News page 4). While details about the deal were scarce as we went to press, it’s an amazing story for the owners, particularly Graham Peacock and Susan Tobell, who were part ...

  • Analysis

    Shop Talk - Tracy West

    2016-01-12T00:00:00Z

    Happy New Year to you all. Can you believe that we’ve already had 15 years of the 21st century? Every time I think of the 21st century, I’m transported back to my school days when we all imagined that by now, some of us would be living on the moon. ...

  • Analysis

    Positive outlook

    2016-01-12T00:00:00Z

    Last year saw a major landmark for the dealer sector in the UK as it powered ahead to represent nearly 70% of all UK forecourts.The decision by the major oil companies to continue selling off many of their retail assets has enabled a few of the larger independent groups to ...

  • Analysis

    Merril Boulton: Ignorance is key for Fair Fuel campaign

    2016-01-12T00:00:00Z

    Happy New Year to you all. Made me smile to see the supermarkets getting a slating over their pricing strategies for a change, instead of always the traditional fuel retailing fraternity. As we kicked off 2016, the RAC’s first report of the year slammed the big four supermarkets’ fuel pricing ...

  • Analysis

    Kevin Eastwood - Executive director BOSS

    2016-01-12T00:00:00Z

    The police and other law enforcement bodies face continuing pressure to prioritise resources in the face of austerity measures. BOSS has been working hard to maintain and build on existing relationships to ensure maximum benefit for members, recognising that it’s important to do more than just report a crime. This ...

  • Analysis

    James Lowman - ACS chief executive

    2016-01-12T00:00:00Z

    In the summer of 2015, ACS launched one of its biggest ever campaigns in opposition to changes to Sunday Trading regulations announced by the Chancellor in his July Budget. We lobbied hard to ensure that the issue was front-of-mind for MPs, and as a result of the campaigning work, a ...

  • Analysis

    Rising through the ranks

    2015-11-30T00:00:00Z

    In what has already been a hectic year for businesses in Forecourt Trader’s Top 50 Indies, another twist has just been added by HKS more than doubling in size to just under 60 sites in just three months.The growth spurt began when HKS acquired seven sites from the sell-off of ...

  • Analysis

    Brian Madderson - chairman RMIP

    2015-11-30T00:00:00Z

    This has been a turbulent and exciting year for petrol retailers with the independent sector powering ahead to represent nearly 70% of all UK forecourts. The decision by the remaining oil majors to continue divesting their retail assets has enabled a few of the larger independent groups to grow quickly ...

  • Analysis

    Shop Talk - Tracy West

    2015-11-04T00:00:00Z

    he news that Christmas will be cheaper for consumers this year means only one thing to retailers fierce competition. A survey for VoucherCodes.co.uk, done by YouGov, found that average household spending on food, presents and decorations would be £796.05 this year. It sounds a lot but it’s actually 3% down ...

  • Analysis

    Peter Harding - retail consultant

    2015-11-04T00:00:00Z

    The latest Apple event came and went launching the new Iphone 6s, new Apple TV new ios 9 and OSx El Capitan and, of course, the Ipad Pro. Having done some work with CBE on the mobile solution, I was keen to see what the Ipad Pro brought to the ...

  • Analysis

    World class

    2015-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Euro Garages’ rapid growth in the UK since its formation in 2001 has already propelled it into third spot in the Forecourt Trader Top 50 Indies, and now it is aiming to become a leading player on a bigger stage. after a private equity firm agreed to invest in the ...

  • Analysis

    Chris Hunt - UKPIA director general

    2015-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Petroleum products are an essential energy resource and they will continue to be for years to come. Our sector produces these vital products and confidence in the safety of our operations is paramount. Our industry does involve potential risks that are greater than those in many other sectors and for ...

  • Analysis

    DCC completes €464m Butagaz purchase

    2015-11-04T00:00:00Z

    Irish conglomerate DCC plc, the parent company of Certas Energy, has completed the purchase of Butagaz SAS, a liquefied petroleum gas business in France, from Shell for €464m (£338m). When the deal was announced in May DCC said the transaction would be its largest ever acquisition and was a ...