No half-decent forecourt operation is complete nowadays with a good food-to-go offer and 2024 was another year of innovation across the category.
In November, having already won the Best Forecourt Innovation accolade at the Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards 2024 for its Fireaway Pizza outlet, Whitfield Service Station near Dover opened the first Doner & Gyros kebab and wrap franchise on a forecourt.
Whitfield is Doner & Gyros’ sixth site and director Diljit Brar describes it as an “express version” of the franchise. He says sales are already good.
The Fireaway Pizza outlet at Whitfield offers a Nutella Pizza, which is incredibly popular.
Also catering for those with a sweet tooth, is Fuzail Patel who has launched a “high impact” self-service dessert bar concession at two of his four forecourts.
The Yoh Sweet concept, says Fuzail, uses minimal labour and fridges to extend the life of the giant cookie and brownie pies, brownies, cheesecakes and gooey cookies. He is now also offering the concept to fellow operators.
On the coffee front, there was a new entry courtesy of premium Italian brand Lavazza. The company launched its coffee concept at The Forecourt Show and immediately signed up 10 forecourt operators to give it a try.
Meanwhile, at shopfloor level, Joe Hockenhull, managing director of Top 50 Indie Hockenhull Garages, says the foodservice category has grown from strength to strength and has now become a main reason why customers keep coming back.
Hockenhull’s food-to-go offer varies from site to site: “Some sites didn’t have the space for foodservice brands like Subway or others which require large kitchen areas. Having brands like Stone Willy’s and Rollover, which take up less space, have given these smaller sites new sales growth and brought new customers in.”
