All Forecourt Trader articles in December 2007
View all stories from this issue.
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News
Total steps up forecourt security efforts
Total has ramped up its forecourt security efforts to protect retailers and customers this Christmas. The move comes in response to figures from the Centre for Retail Research, which predict that thieves will steal £447 million from retailers in Britain between mid November and the end of the year.According to ...
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News
Put some festive cheer into your sales
With the UK gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year on the roads, retailers who stay alert can really inject some festive cheer into forecourt sales. Nationwide Autocentres is warning that many motorists are not prepared for the cold winter weather this year as they set ...
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News
More Proper pasties
The Proper Cornish Food Company is launching a new range of premium pre-packed pasties.There are six handmade pasties to choose from, including pepper steak, chicken & ham and cheese & onion, all with a recommended retail price of £1.39. The chilled range also includes a premium sausage roll with a ...
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News
Sniffing out profits
It’s that time of year again - yes of course it’s nearly Christmas, but it’s also peak season for coughs and colds. But do you see yourself as a purveyor of pills and potions to see off these nasty bugs? Because, according to David Alston, national account manager at the ...
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News
Results of this month’s online poll:
Do you agree with the Competition Commission’s findings that large grocery retailers do not put convenience stores at a disadvantage?YES19%NO81%It’s clear that the vast majority of you disagree with the Commission - and feel that bigger businesses are a definite threat to smaller retailers.
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News
Mo’gas
Last month, while trying to fathom out Shell’s kamikaze fuel pricing policy, I posed the question ’Do you have to keep your fuel price highly competitive in order to sustain your c-store turnover?’. Now they say that, when cross examining, a good barrister never asks a witness a question that ...
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News
More from your mobile
Visa Europe is trialling the 02 Wallet in the UK to examine the use of mobile phones to make purchases, access events or be used as Oyster cards for travel around London - simply by touching the phone to a reader.The six-month trial - which involves more than 500 people ...
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News
Quattro makeover
Wilkinson Sword has relaunched its Quattro razors targeting younger customers.The company hopes the changes to the £13.2m range will also encourage existing customers to trade up to a more premium product.Julian Williams, category development manager at Energizer Wilkinson Sword, says: "The improvements we’ve made to the Quattro system will not ...
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News
Lil-Lets lightens up
Lil-Lets is introducing a new light tampon in the new year. Called Lil-Lets Lite, the non-applicator tampon claims to be the lowest absorbency tampon in the UK. It is aimed at women during their lighter days and at new users at the younger end of the market.At the same time, ...
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News
Thumbs up for Lee
Lee Nicholls, who runs St.Matthews Service Station in Leicester, has a novel way of dealing with customers who fill up then say they cannot pay - he uses an £8 ink pad to take their thumb prints.Lee, with the backing of local police, now takes non-payers’ prints plus their names ...
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News
Luscious new launch
Dove is adding a new range of luxury body washes to its collection.The Dove supreme cream oil body washes are available in luscious velvet, sleek satin and fine silk variants, and will be on shelves from January.Unilever says this will be the brand’s biggest cleansing launch in 2008. It is ...
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News
Retailers urge OFT to investigate Shell
Retailers are calling on the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to investigate Shell’s "unfair" pricing policy which they say is "murdering" the industry. Independents want OFT officers to tackle what they see as aggressive pricing because they feel simply unable to compete in the current climate. With oil prices rising ...
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News
Roydon is revived with improved site
Roydon Service Station in Norfolk, which closed for business at the begining of the year when the owner wanted to retire, has re-opened as a Gulf site.Situated on the busy A1066 through-route between Diss and Thetford, the forecourt was bought by LR Wyard & Scott, which has another forecourt at ...
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Analysis
’Greavous’ harm
As Shell continues its relentless cut-price fuel strategy, the rest of the petrol retailing industry continues to scratch its head in total disbelief. None more so than independent dealer Graham Greaves, who runs a third-generation family-run petrol forecourt and coach business - Henry Cooper, Lane End Garage in Annitsford, Northumberland ...
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News
Healthy pasta pots to go
Pasta King has launched a new range of pasta pots aimed at healthy snackers.The PK2GO products are supplied to retailers in individual frozen pots and are designed to be heated in a microwave on purchase. Six varieties are available including bolognese, carbonara and butternut melt.Rrp per pot ranges from £2.95 ...
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News
Fuel price shock?
Most people have been dreading it for a long time, but we’ve now broken through the £1-per-litre barrier at the pumps and this time it’s probably for keeps. Sure, as this is being written, some sites are still selling unleaded at 99.9ppl, but it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to ...
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News
Kellogg’s fruity new snacks
Kellogg’s is entering the fruit snack market with a new range called FruitaBu. Launching in January, the products are made entirely from fruit and fruit juice and contain no added sugar, artificial colours or flavours.Initially there will be Apple Crisps in three flavours - apple, apple with strawberry and ...
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News
Filled with Opportunity
The big three chocolate manufacturers - Cadbury Trebor Bassett (CTB), Mars and Nestlé Rowntree - all have the same message for forecourt retailers in the run up to Easter 2008. Stock up on filled and mini eggs, they say, and cash in on the impulse sales they bring.Indeed the importance ...
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News
Fantastic four
There was stiff competition in the main route category of this year’s Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards.But Edward Prosser proudly stepped up to collect the award for best main route independent with nine sites or less for the state-of-the-art Harry Tuffins site he manages in Ludlow, Shropshire. The site ...
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News
Fanta gets a facelift
Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) is launching a juicy version of its Relentless energy drink brand containing 50% fruit juice.Due for launch next March, CCE hopes it will attract new customers to the energy drinks sector, which is worth almost £600m in the UK.The company is also adding an orange flavour to ...