All Analysis articles – Page 8
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Analysis
Panic stations
Chaos took hold on Britain’s forecourts last month as motorists followed confusing advice issued by government ministers to keep their tanks topped up, with one even suggesting using jerry cans.The warnings were issued in the wake of the Unite union announcing its tanker driver members had voted for strike action. ...
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Analysis
Over to you, OFT
The momentum had been gathering for some time. And at the appropriate moment RMI Petrol made its submission to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for an inquiry into the UK fuels market. It must respond within 30 days.The OFT submission followed a month in which supplies were disrupted through ...
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Analysis
Flexible friend
W hen the big trees fall, new ones grow back in their place. In the road transport fuel sector, Greenergy has become part of the new growth, supplying the needs of the market as the traditional operators fall away.Founded as a niche manufacturer of green fuels in 1992, it has ...
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Analysis
What’s in store?
This coming year will see the growing trend towards market consolidation, according to Adam Wadlow, partner at property specialist BarberWadlow."Last year’s Rontec deal with Total was possibly the start of a general pattern," he said. "The sale of Motor Fuel Group was another case in point. In order to survive ...
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Analysis
Duty bound
MPs voted unanimously last month to pass a motion demanding that the government puts the two fuel duty rises planned for next year on the back burner. The House of Commons backbench debate united all political parties with MPs calling on the government to consider the feasibility of a ...
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Analysis
Welcome pledge
DCC Energy has moved swiftly to reassure Total dealers about its commitment to their businesses, and a seamless transition once the acquisition from Rontec is completed.The initial, rather negative, reaction by Total dealers to the news that their contracts would be moving from Rontec to DCC, announced last month, was ...
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Analysis
What’s going on?
Last month many Total dealers were shocked to learn that contract completions permitting their supply arrangements will soon come under the control of a company many had never heard of. Their surprise although some had heard rumours followed the news release, issued on September 23, that DCC plc, the ...
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Analysis
Tragedy on the streets
Images of Dudley Road Service Station in Birmingham fenced off by Police cordon after three men were mown down and killed in front of the forecourt, hit home the tragic consequences of the violent disorder that spread across England last month.After the incident in the early hours of August 10, ...
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Analysis
Onwards and upwards
By all accounts Jet retailers in the south west have had nothing but praise for the service they have received from ConocoPhillips. That was until June, when they received notice that the company would no longer be able to supply and distribute transport fuels competitively to its customers ...
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Analysis
The deal is done
When stories emerged earlier this year about Gerald Ronson being the lead bidder for the Total network, it took the industry by surprise. But even more surprising has been the emergence of Shell as the subsequent buyer of more than half of Total’s company-owned sites. Despite agreeing to ...
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Analysis
Carry on complaining
Retailers are again being urged to take action against what they perceive to be ’unfair’ or ’predatory’ pricing. Andrew Lawrence of Lawrences Garages, who chaired last month’s RMI Petrol meeting in Gatwick, West Sussex, said it was incumbent on everyone to write to their MPs where there were problems. ...
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Analysis
Poles apart
Retailers are being urged to come forward with evidence of predatory pricing by supermarkets and oil companies as retailers’ fuel volumes continue to decline and margins are increasingly squeezed. Brian Madderson, chairman of RMI Petrol, has written to the government calling for an investigation into the unfair practices of both ...
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Analysis
Out of sight, out of mind?
Retailers and trade associations have united in their disappointment that a tobacco display ban will go ahead in England despite any credible evidence that concealing gantries reduces smoking.The announcement by health secretary Andrew Lansley on March 9 has also been met with surprise. The Conservatives had previously suggested they would ...
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Analysis
Movers and shakers
Just as MRH was again named the UK’s number-one independent forecourt retailer in our 2011 Top 50 Indies listing, the company announced the sale of its commercial fuels distribution business Pace Fuelcare Ltd to GB Oils Ltd, a major operating subsidiary of Dublin-based DCC plc, and owner of ...
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Analysis
Ray of hope
Chancellor George Osborne has given the forecourt industry and UK motorists a glimmer of hope by saying he is considering cancelling the fuel duty increase due to take effect in April.Following mounting pressure to rethink the 1ppl duty hike, which after the addition of VAT and inflation would ...
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Analysis
2011 - here we come
James Lowman,chief executive, ACS"Last year saw a change of government and 2011 will be about real policy change. Public sector cuts, the VAT rise and other budget reforms will start to bite, consumers will retrench, and forecourt retailers will not be immune from the effects."Also as Councils are given more ...
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Analysis
Rates in check
A 12-month battle over 2010 Business Rates, during which more than 2,000 fuel retailers lodged appeals, has resulted in some notable triumphs for the lobbying team led by RMI Petrol and, most importantly, for the industry.Almost a year to the day since Brian Madderson was made chairman of ...
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Analysis
Cut to the quick
With colossal job losses in the public sector and cuts in public spending, the government’s Spending Review announced by Chancellor George Osborne last month has sent shockwaves through the nation and forecourt operators are unlikely to ride the storm without a struggle.Next year is looking like it will be a ...
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Analysis
Total withdrawal
There have been many oil company comings and goings over the years, but Total’s announcement last month about its decision to sell up is unprecedented in terms of oil company exits from the UK.It will be the first time a traditionally-structured oil company with refinery, supply chain including pipelines, ...
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Analysis
Re(de)fining the market
When Murphy Oil recently announced plans to sell off its Milford Haven refinery in Wales along with the entire Murco network in the UK it caused more than a few ripples of concern in the industry, as yet another oil company was opting out of refining to concentrate ...