All Columnists articles
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AnalysisSHOP TALK: Is it chocolate? No, it’s a plant bar
Who’d be a vegan? Well, actually quite a lot of people if you look at the stats
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Analysis
MONEY TALK: It looks like we can expect a very hard winter…
From what’s going on all around us at the moment, it looks like we can expect a very hard winter
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Analysis
SERVICE CENTRE: Jac Roper on GripHero gloves and the new E10 fuel
Jac looks at problems with GripHero gloves and the new E10 fuel, and how a change of name caused problems at Camelot
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Analysis
SERVICE CENTRE: Was she pulling a sickie?
Jac Roper warns about treading carefully when it comes to staff absences and a reader recommends a car-wash solution
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Feature
MONEY TALK: Back to ‘normal’ then… or is it? But there maybe some wins for forecourts
Back to ‘normal’ then… or is it? It seems we are still a long way from those pre-Covid days, but there maybe some wins for forecourts
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Analysis
PIPELINE: Refined products market is improving
The health of the European refined products market is steadily improving as vaccine roll-outs continue to gather pace and demand slowly returns, but plenty of hurdles remain before the industry can breathe a sigh of relief.
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Analysis
SERVICE CENTRE: When you limit your liability, it sometimes brings its own liabilities
Jac Roper ponders problems with changing the status of your business; plus how an increasingly cashless society is costing retailers
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Analysis
SHOP TALK: Masculinity measured by meat
Did you know it’s No Meat May? No, me neither. It’s a charity campaign challenging people to give up meat for 31 days.
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Analysis
SERVICE CENTRE: A big address screw-up on the news front
Tom Dant, who is managing director of Gill Marsh Forecourts, wrote in to say: “I have a problem at one of my stores with Menzies. It’s the first time we have had dealings with them as our new site was a bit far north for Smiths News.
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Analysis
SERVICE CENTRE: Problems with newspaper vouchers and smelly smokers
Jac Roper looks at how a newspaper voucher returns envelope problem gets resolved; plus advice on how to deal with a smelly smoker
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Analysis
MONEY TALK: Fuel volume data update and ‘HMRC’ scam warning
According to the ONS, fuel volumes across Great Britain last November (2020) were down almost 24% against their benchmark February 2020 level.
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Analysis
PIPELINE: Tight fuel supply outweighs demand
Low refinery runs and firm export demand have tightened European road fuel supply this winter, even as strict Covid-19 travel restrictions returned. European refineries responded to the return of Covid restrictions by slashing runs on an unprecedented level.
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Analysis
SERVICE CENTRE: Problems with an AdBlue installation; a retailer on the look out for an EV charger supplier; and Christmas is coming…
Nozzle up the spout and it’s no joke That might be a punning headline but the story is anything but funny. Danyal Shoaib got in touch from Hylands Service Station at Great Bookham in Surrey, to say that he had an issue with Tokheim (TSG) that had ...
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Article
MONEY TALK: Pat on the back for petrol retailers - the unsung heroes of 2020
The petrol retailing industry should give itself a pat on the back for being among the unsung heroes on the frontline in 2020
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Analysis
Service Centre: Jac Roper celebrates 25 years helping you out
Jac Roper on a rusty pump issue; password problems and cowboy rating firms
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Article
Legal advice: Changes in working practices and what the ‘new norm’ might look like
Our ‘legal doctor’ Robert Botkai discusses changes in working practices and what the ‘new norm’ might look like
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Article
Contact with BEIS helps our cause
During the pandemic lockdown, PRA was one of the few industry trade associations to be invited to a fortnightly fuel review with the Downstream Oil Industry Forum (DOIF) and have daily contact with the Energy Resilience Unit at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
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Article
Money Talk: Navigating stormy waters
It’s probably fair to say that six months ago none of us really believed that as we head into autumn the single topic dominating business in the UK would still be Covid-19 (-whatever happened to “Brexit”?).
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Article
A moment of reflection
As we approach the August Bank Holiday I thought it opportune for a moment of reflection on what has been a momentous few months. Petrol retailers have responded brilliantly to the challenges of Covid-19. As a sector you have demonstrated flexibility. You have changed product ranges. ...
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Analysis
Service Centre: Jac Roper on drive-offs, delivery problems; and crowdfunding success
We, the retailers, are stuck in the middle as police would not take any action and at the same time we cannot get anywhere with DVLA to obtain the car owners’ details. But there is a middle way which has proven very effective in the past.
