All Forecourt Trader articles in December 2005
View all stories from this issue.
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Analysis
Time for pay at pump
There may still be teething problems, but now that the rollout of Chip & PIN is well under way, a seminar last month suggested that it was time for forecourts to fully explore pay-at-pump technology. The question was raised at a ‘Chip & PIN at the Pump’ seminar, organised by ...
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News
Money spinners
Car washes can offer retailers high margins of up to 80%, but many retailers don’t give the car wash the attention it deserves – perhaps because it lies outside the shop, which has become the focus of many forecourts these days. As a result, many machines aren’t being used to ...
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News
A healthy profit
With the Met Office predicting a big freeze and cold and flu rates set to soar, over the counter medicines (OTC) will be vital this winter. The distress nature of the category and continuing government policy that encourages self-medication means that forecourts are well placed to pick up their share ...
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News
Hazelgrove invests in people
Hazlegrove Services in Sparkford, Somerset, has received a coveted Investors in People Award after completing a rigorous assessment process, involving management and staff training and business development.The site, on the A303, is one of six forecourts owned by the West Country’s Chartman Group and features an Esso-branded forecourt with Spar ...
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News
Sims woos US with ’Simply’ great tales
BP retail director Graham Sims and M&S’s head of food formats Jill Bruce were among the speakers at this year’s National Association of Convenience Store’s (NACS) show held in Las Vegas last month.Addressing the audience of the ‘High Results: Adding World-Class Food’ workshop, Sims and Bruce talked about the Simply ...
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News
Let me entertain you
British consumers are spending more money than ever on entertainment – and not just on eating out or drinking down the pub. They’re shelling out to be entertained in their homes and cars. As such they’re demanding DVDs and CDs at an astonishing rate. Market forecasts estimate that 196 million ...
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NewsEmerald-isle hat trick
Rural winner of the year 2005 - Sharon McKenna The Vivo Templepatrick forecourt in County Antrim really must be getting it right – this is the second year in a row it has won an award in our rural category and this year it has gone one better to be ...
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News
Dynamic technology
Panasonic System Solutions has unveiled its latest range of equipment including CCTV, IP cameras and EPoS solutions, as well as iris recognition and digital signage.An innovative solution for the retail sector is the company’s WINICS Retail software – which can link till transaction data with employee activity as recorded from ...
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News
Pinning down fraud
Pinning down fraud It might be happy Christmas any minute but this is an early Valentine for you. If you are not Chip and PIN compliant by next February 14 you will have to carry the can for any fraudulent use of credit/debit cards. I know, it’s not the most ...
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News
Turnover doubles with Mace fascia
Forecourt owner Nandan Kumar, who has two sites in Peterborough, has doubled the turnover in one of his stores since embracing the new-look Mace Express. Nandan’s success coincides with news from Palmer & Harvey McLane’s symbol division that the number of Mace Express members is up 20% on last year ...
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News
Delightful eggs
Cadbury Trebor Bassett’s Easter 2006 range focuses on special gifts, while the ever-popular Creme Egg is back in store and on TV screens from January 1. This year’s collection aims to build on the success of Cadbury Easter Egg Delight, the premium shell egg range launched for 2005. The luxury ...
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NewsEsso on the hunt for new dealers
Esso is embarking on a recruitment campaign in the new year to sign up new dealers. Timo Halonen, the company’s dealer-owned service station manager for the UK and Ireland, said: “We’re here and we’re in business. We haven’t communicated our message well, but we’re now on a new regime to ...
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NewsDatabase: No time for paperwork
It is becoming evident that as more retailers find themselves urged into multi-site operation, the one aspect of running these ‘site groups’ that seems to have been neglected is the administration and paperwork. The assumption seems to be that it’ll take care of itself – the sites have modern PC-based ...
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News
High cost of drive-offs
Drive-off fuel thieves stole £1.2m worth of petrol in Leicestershire last year, a survey has revealed.According to a poll of 25 outlets – conducted by The Leicester Mercury newspaper – some forecourts were hit up to three times a week, and thieves were rarely caught because the quality of CCTV ...
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News
Gordons scores a century
Few service station businesses can claim to have been operating for over 100 years, but Gordons Ford in Lancashire is one of them. The family-owned business operates three Texaco petrol stations at Bolton, Horwich and Walkden, and has recently celebrated 70 years of working with the oil company. Starting ...
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News
NEWS IN BRIEF
The LP Gas Association has re-launched the Boost LPG website with all the latest news on the alternative fuel. The website is an independent consumer guide to LPG autogas and includes information on the benefits of the fuel, getting an LPG vehicle and filling up both in the UK and ...
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NewsBP Connect takes the franchise route
BP Retail has launched a franchise trial of its BP Connect and Wild Bean Café. The first two sites are Crow Orchard Connect in Wigan and Maynestone Connect in Ashton under Lyne. Both are now operated by Wembley-based Motor Fuel Limited. The company is run by S Sejpal and S ...
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NewsShop Doctor: BP M&S Simply Food, Hammersmith
Can 1 + 1 = 3? Yes, I am certain it can. For example, when two enterprises come together the result may well be greater than the some of the original two parts.Would this be the case at the pilot BP/M&S Simply Food site at Hammersmith? Well, I went to ...
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News
IFFE show is back
Forecourt Equipment Show (IFFE) is back from March 19 – 22, 2006. Last year’s show was so successful it has now been made an annual event. Held at the NEC, Birmingham, more than 50 companies will be exhibiting, covering all aspects of the forecourt industry and supported by the major ...
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News
Gulf sign means fuel is back in West Wales
Gulf has returned to West Wales in an impressive way – in conjunction with the area’s largest convenience store. Siop y Frydiau, which translates into Shop by the Falls, on the busy A484 at Cenarth, has been subject to a £500,000 rebuild which included the reintroduction of fuel after an ...