Welcome to our new-look Forecourt Trader. Yes, we’ve had a bit of a refresh, but it’s still the same great mix of news, views and retail insight that, according to our latest research, makes Forecourt Trader still your number one trade mag. New additions to look out for include a regular column from Charlotte Blum, analysis editor of Argus Media, who will be giving a steer on oil price movements and how they might impact on prices at the pump.

We’ve also introduced a new fun feature at the back of the book Twenty Questions which replaces Day in the Life.

Our website has also undergone a bit of an update please take a look at www.forecourttrader.co.uk. There’s always a lot more news there than we can fit into the pages of the monthly magazine; plus there’s other features including regular retail and wholesale pricing indicators, our monthly poll, more pictures and a digital edition coming along soon. And if you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to register to receive our regular newsletters.

While we’re at it, the Forecourt Show opens this month in Birmingham at the NEC April 24-26. It runs alongside the National Convenience Show and Farm Shop & Deli, so there’s lots to see and do. Please come along to join in our panel session on Tuesday 25, The ACS/PRA Forecourt Conference is running on Wednesday 26 with a packed programme. See our Show Preview on page 45 for all the details.

In case you hadn’t noticed the cover, this month sees the launch of the Forecourt Trader Awards 2017, and again, it has a refreshed website www.forecourttraderawards.co.uk. Please visit and get your entries loaded before the May 12 deadline. It should be a great competition this year, as always, and we look forward to seeing your initiatives, and how the industry has raised the bar, once again.

Talking of initiatives, our main story this month features the legendary Gerald Ronson as I joined him on one of his regular site tours, which included a visit to two of his new Morrisons Daily stores (see Retail Insight, page 20). It was a fascinating day out. Gerald is still a force to be reckoned with, he’s passionate about the business, and is not putting his feet up any time soon.

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