All Forecourt Trader articles in August 2006
View all stories from this issue.
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News
Shell launches Optimax replacement
Shell is rolling out a new premium petrol which will replace its Optimax brand. V-Power is described as a performance fuel, which has been developed by the same Shell scientists who create Formula 1 racing fuel for Ferrari. It has an octane rating of 99 RON and is said to contain unique Friction Modification Technology to help the engine turn more freely. It also claims to offer a powerful cleaning formula, designed to remove carbon deposits and boost responsiveness. Shell says the fuel will retail at 1p per litre more than Optimax and around 7p more than their standard unleaded fuel offering. The oil company aims to have 96% of its sites switched to V-Power this week.
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News
BP launches ’carbon neutral’ scheme
A new scheme to enable any driver to voluntarily reduce their impact on climate change has been launched by BP. Called targetneutral, motorists can calculate the cost of the annual C02 reduction required to make their vehicle carbon neutral – about £20 a year - by logging on to www.targetneutral.com. ...
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News
Drought fears eased
Water restrictions are unlikely to be implemented straight away should Thames Water have its drought order approved this month, the company’s environment director has said.Richard Aylard said the application had been made to ‘prepare for the worst’ and would only be used as a last resort: “We expect a decision ...
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News
Esso launches healthy options branding
Esso will be highlighting healthier product choices in its company stores from September.A ‘healthy option tick’ will appear permanently on pricing strips in front of SKUs with ‘better for you’ credentials.Gondola end promotions will be used to launch the scheme.
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AnalysisSqueezy Street
Why is Shell doing it? It’s the question on the lips of certain dealers having to operate within the vicinity of a cluster of Shell co-owned sites that, for some time, have been displaying fuel prices totally out of sync with other local forecourts. In these areas, while many forecourts ...
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News
Retro-fit solution
Dresser Wayne Pignone is promoting its retro-fit solutions for Stage Two vapour recovery ahead of legislation which comes into force this autumn.There are two solutions available. The first is based on a vapour recovery piston pump and can be installed on all Dresser Wayne factory-supplied dispensers. The second is for ...
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News
Raising the stakes
Service and standards are under the microscope as the Jet brand pursues excellence across its 540-strong dealer network with a programme called ’HI’.With a UK-wide marketing reorganisation at the company’s head office in Warwick completed earlier this year, the ConocoPhillips marque has embarked on an ongoing brand audit to discover ...
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NewsPRA seeks OFT reaction to Shell
Shell’s cut-price fuel strategy in certain parts of the country has prompted the Petrol Retailer’s Association to write a letter of complaint to the Office of Fair Trading, pushing for a meeting to discuss the matter in depth.PRA director Ray Holloway believes that Shell is selling below-cost on some of ...
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NewsMeasure for measure
The average petrol retailer could be losing as much as £15,000 per site, each year, due to indifferent monitoring of his fuel stock. And that’s just for starters.Petrol is a difficult product to deal with. Unlike Mars bars, it doesn’t arrive packed up neatly in boxes which remain intact until ...
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News
Masterful spend
A £4.5m media spend by Masterfoods looks set to drive demand for its Celebrations and Maltesers brands in the run-up to Christmas.The substantial spend has been determined by the company’s research that found brand power influences 60% of consumer purchasing decisions. Other developments for the festive season include the introduction ...
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News
Jellybeans move in
Leaf is bolstering its position in impulse with the launch of Chewits Fruities jellybeans.The product is targeted at eight to 14-year-olds. Leaf predicts that the sweets will capture a share of the on-the-move market through forecourts as well as creating extra impulse-purchase opportunities for grocery retailers and CTNs.Chewits Fruities ...
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News
Mo’gas: An irreverant view from the network
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, but I’m a bit of a footie fan. Now I’m not talking here as a ’World Cup convert.’ I’m talking instead as a dyed-in-the wool terrace fan, the sort that actually didn’t mind standing on an open terrace at 3 o’clock on a Saturday afternoon ...
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News
Pillow hits the spot
Spot Promotions has delivered the Beano Squishie to savvy petrol retailers who are retailing it at half the price of high street stores. Key elements to the product’s success, according to the company, are its multi-functional use for travelling, camping or at home, coupled with its cosy, luxurious feel. The ...
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NewsViable tank gauge
A wireless tank gauging system has been launched by Gilbarco Veeder-Root. The TLS-RF wireless communication system allows fuel retailers to install automatic tank monitoring in situations where it would previously have been too costly or impractical to fit the necessary wiring.John Plevier, managing director of Gilbarco’s environmental business unit, says ...
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News
Waitrose rapped for ’short’ fuel
Waitrose has been fined £5,700 for selling short measure diesel to customers.The supermarket pleaded guilty to breaching the Weights and Measures Act at a hearing before magistrates. The discrepancy at the site in central Salisbury was discovered during a routine inspection by Trading Standards Officers, who also discovered an ...
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News
KitKat gets fresh
New-style packaging and a dark chocolate four-finger variant are the highlights of a new programme of activity for KitKat, Nestlé Rowntree’s flagship brand.The latest ’foil fresh’ packaging will see KitKat 4 Finger, KitKat 2 Finger and KitKat Chunky using a new metallised wrapper which aims to keep the product up ...
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News
Energy pumps into forecourts
Forecourts and motorway service stations are being targeted by a major Lucozade Energy marketing programme, including sampling, which is expected to reach one million people.Branding appears on pumps, nozzles, pos units, chillers and public toilets.020 8047 5000
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News
Doritos goes for growth
Walkers Crisps is hoping to drive growth of its Doritos brand by restructuring the range with the introduction of a new sizzling barbecue flavour and the inclusion of hint of lime and lightly salted flavours into the core range. The Latinos and Dippas sub-brands will be discontinued to eliminate confusion ...
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NewsShop Doctor: St Michaels Garage, Swanage, Dorset
There are three forecourts with shops within five miles on the A351, from Corfe Castle to Swanage. There are two Texacos and sandwiched in between, at the village of Harmans Cross, a BP/Londis Express.General Appearance: The St Michaels Garage complex (forecourt, shop, new- and used-car sales showroom and service workshop) ...