scotland: up to 2.5mlpa

Auld Brig Service Station was gutted and redeveloped into a state-of-the-art forecourt last spring, and just six months’ later won the Best Scotland Site award.

Located on a busy road connecting Alloa and Sterling in Clackmannanshire, the new site offers Gulf fuels, Londis c-store, a WiFi lounge, Costa Coffee, a wide range of locally-sourced produce, and has extensive parking facilities.

One category that’s missing is an off licence, which David Penny, owner and managing director of Penny Petroleum, is working hard to rectify. "There has been local opposition to having any more off licences in the area because people are saying there are too many so we have to demonstrate a need for one. We’ve got a petition going and it’s got hundreds of names on it."

Other developments in the planning are turning the store into a farm shop-style offer, a full hot food eatery on the premises, along with an extensive car wash facility including three jet washes, a rollover and a conveyor wash.

scotland: 2.5mlpa plus

Located one mile from Glasgow city centre and a short walk to the centre of Barrhead town, Barrhead Service Station, which came out on top in the 2.5mlpa Plus category for Scotland, is serving a mix of local and transient customers.
The Premier-branded shop sells a wide range of products from snacks and drinks to an extensive array of non-food items including toys and gifts. But manageress Gazala Baig, speaking on behalf of owner Hussen Moughal (pictured left), says it’s the high level of customer service that brings motorists and shop-only customers coming back time and time again. "Barrhead is a big forecourt with a lovely countryside view and we serve a mix of passers-by and locals, with 1,500 customers coming to the site every day," she says. "We create a happy atmosphere for customers and that makes people want to come here."

northern ireland: 2.5mlpa plus

Customers of BP-branded Spar Glenwell in Glengormley, Newtownabbey, have little need to shop anywhere else with this site on their doorstep. The forecourt, which was named Best Northern Ireland Site, features around 6,000 fresh and ambient lines, a Post Office, in-store butcher and a Streat-branded hot food-to-go counter. There is even a pharmacy and chip shop. Aaron McMahon, who runs the site, says: "All services are local and handy. Parking is no hassle we’ve got 58 spaces and four disabled spaces plus a big car park out the back with a walkway from the housing estate."
The fact that a Tesco superstore opened nearby and put very little dent in trade is testament to the site’s appeal to customers. "We had budgeted for losing £7,000 a week but Tesco only took £2,000 a week away from us," explains Aaron. "The feedback was that the supermarket was too big and customer service was better from us."

northern ireland: up to 2.5mlpa

Since Eurospar in Mayobridge, County Down built a 6,500sq ft store on the back of an existing 1,800sq ft, shop, sales have gone from strength to strength and have led to success in the Up to 2.5mlpa category for Northern Ireland.
The former store was flattened to allow for additional car parking, and now the site services some 12,000 customers in the County Down area and benefits from both passing and local trade.
Nigel O’Hare, who runs the site with brother Ronan, says that within one year, sales were up 75%. "The shop has become a destination store for the local community. The Eurospar concept works well and complements the customer base we have. With extensive promotional activity and strong focus on quality and freshness, we strive to provide our customers with value as well as quality and this is proven in our sales success."

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