All Analysis articles – Page 32
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Analysis
Shop talk with Tracy west
I’ve been doing one of my favourite work things lately, which is going out and about visiting convenience retailers and I’ve seen some fantastic stores and brilliant products. As I write this, I am chowing down on some Cherry Madeira cake, which is delicious. It’s a great big slab of ...
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Analysis
Reports hit the flaw
The findings of January’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) report on the UK road fuel market have been seriously undermined by the revised market share figures for supermarkets released by the government (see panel). They show that the supermarkets have a far higher share of the UK road fuels market ...
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Analysis
David Charman: chairman CWA
The summer has been kind to forecourt operators this year. Blasting sun and hot temperatures have meant that our sites have been a magnet for drinks, ice creams and BBQ necessities; but have the standards at our sites been enough to interest and keep customers interested in all aspects of ...
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Analysis
Change on the cards
The news that the European Commission is to introduce limits on the charges retailers pay for processing credit card and debit card payments has been welcomed by the PRA, but chairman Brian Madderson said a lot more still needs to be done to address problems in this area. The first ...
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Analysis
Shop Talk with Tracy West
Like most other retailers, I suspect you are running lots of offers in your store. The thinking goes that the cash-poor, so-called savvy consumer is always looking for a bargain. But, and it’s a big but, new research says that perhaps there are just too many products being promoted which ...
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Analysis
Refining the cost of fuel
Two major reports in the past month have looked at road fuels and the motoring sector from very different perspectives, but both have highlighted the cost of fuel and taxation.At one end of the spectrum, the Statistical Review 2013 of the UKPIA (United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association) covers the fuel ...
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Analysis
Spotlight on pricing
Many in the trade have welcomed the decision by the European Commission (EC) to launch an investigation into oil price fixing, especially after the disappointment caused by the OFT’s refusal to sanction a probe into the UK road fuel market just weeks earlier.And, as the issue in question appears to ...
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Analysis
Surprising development
Well, what a pleasant surprise for a change. Just when the industry was going about its business and had given up expecting any kind of assistance in ensuring fair trading, up popped a European Commission inquiry into alleged oil-price fixing (see News Extra, page 10). How did we know? Because ...
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Analysis
Brian Madderson: chairman PRA
In March 2012, Bloomberg reported that a commission appointed by the G20 nations’ finance ministers called for stricter regulation of price-reporting agencies (now confusingly referred to as PRA by the media) to prevent the manipulation of oil markets. At that time, a consultation document published by the International Organisation of ...
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Analysis
Positive outlook
There are plenty of positive things happening in the market for independent dealers. That was the message from Experian Catalist’s account manager, Arthur Renshaw, as he kicked off the Forecourt Spotlight session at this year’s Forecourt Show."There’s an awful lot going on in the sector at moment," he said. "The ...
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Analysis
Peter Harding - Retail technology consultant
Something that has been on my mind for some time, and is a fascinating new technology, is 3D printing. Yes, the ability to print items in 3D ie solid. This technology allows users to print a solid object from a CAD drawing. What? I hear you say. The ability to ...
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Analysis
Chris Hunt: UKPIA director general
As I write this, our never-ending winter seems to be continuing, although some sections of the media have become excited because temperatures might approach the dizzy heights of 14oC! I’m sure that this is the sort of weather the Chancellor would have preferred not to have seen on the grounds ...
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Analysis
A sustainable case?
The introduction of E10 fuel into the UK came a step closer this week as the finishing touches were applied to a public awareness campaign about it. No oil company has yet committed to introducing E10 into the UK, but when one does the campaign will swing into operation to ...
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Analysis
Freedom and flexibility
Last month, leading fuel supplier Greenergy came good on its promise of a multi-format offer for independent dealers, with the announcement that it has added the Esso and Nisa brands to its portfolio. The Greenergy offer now combines fuel supply with a choice of oil major, convenience, independent and dealer ...
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Analysis
A missed opportunity
After winning a long battle just to get the OFT to consider whether there were competition problems in the road fuel market, the outcome last week was a deep disappointment for the PRA, and the many other groups campaigning for a full investigation.Having provided a mass of information, including detailed ...
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Analysis
Footfall offers hope
The forecourt sector is facing a tough start to 2013, as it will be affected by the wider economy, but there will be trends and opportunities that could be turned to operators benefit. That’s the view of the industry at the start of the New Year.John Lynn, managing director of ...
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Analysis
David Charman: chairman CWA
This year has been a tough year for car washing. Unsettled weather and tough competition have meant the pressure is really on to capture wash business when the sun does shine. Our industry has been on the back foot for so many years that we have lost sight of the ...
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Analysis
Autumn meltdown
There’s been a great deal of activity in the run-up to this month’s Autumn Statement as various organisations plead their cases, with cancellation of January’s fuel duty rise at the top of the agenda.In an open letter to Minister for Business and Enterprise, Michael Fallon MP, PRA chairman Brian Madderson ...
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Analysis
News Extra: Station rationalisation
Widespread economic uncertainty coupled with soaring oil prices has seen fuel consumption decline since 2008, leading international oil companies to review their service station portfolios across Europe and exit unprofitable sites, according to new analysis by CBRE, a property company which advises some of the world’s biggest oil companies on ...
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Analysis
Question time with Caroline Hobson
Q Last month was the deadline for submissions to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for its short inquiry into the petrol retailing sector. What happens now? A The OFT will now go away and review the submissions it has received, seek further information from industry players and consider ...