All Forecourt Trader articles in December 2014 – Page 2
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News
Money Talk: Are you brave enough to try our end-of-year quiz?
1] Your accounts show total shop turnover for the year as £240,000 at an overall GP% of 19%. But your business plan was based on an expected GP of 23% on sales of £220,000. How far off-target is your gross profit against the business plan? [a] Over by £8,000 [b] ...
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Analysis
Brian Madderson - Chairman PRA
This year could mark a watershed for the beleaguered independent sector with several structural changes swiftly impacting prospects. The oil companies continue their orderly retreat from direct retailing (Murco, Esso, Shell) and we have been monitoring these disposals carefully. We predict that the independent sector could increase to more than ...
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News
in brief
Purpose-built site opensBlakemore Retail has opened a new purpose-built petrol forecourt store in Louth, Lincolnshire. The store, situated on the Fairfield Industrial Estate, is the first of Blakemore Retail’s sites to combine a Spar convenience offer with both Greggs and Subway franchises.FTA calls for cut in dutyThe Freight Transport Association ...
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News
Bring on spring
With all your Christmas stock, staff and rotas sorted (hopefully), it’s time to look ahead to the spring occasions Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter. According to Mintel’s Seasonal Shopping report from August, 68% of consumers spend money on Easter products and services; 64% spend on Mother’s Day items; ...
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News
Easy cake offer
Country Choice’s new Mini Loaf Cakes range comprises four varieties: lemon meringue; carrot; fruit; and double chocolate. Delivered in cases of 24, the ready-wrapped cakes come frozen. They can be defrosted in one to two hours, and once thawed have a 14-day shelf life. Rrp is £1.35.The company offers two ...
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News
TV cameras visit Chartman Group site
Chartman Group’s flagship service station at Haldon Hill, on the A38 outside Exeter, hosted the launch of the Highways Agency’s annual winter driving campaign late last month.Chartman director Clive Sheppard said the request came out of the blue and the company was happy to help out. "We were able ...
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News
Hand car washes under investigation
Links between organised crime and hand car wash outlets in West Surrey have been targeted in operations by police and other agencies at six locations.The initiative, Operation Arras, is the first one of its kind in Surrey and aimed to target the problems of human trafficking, servitude, money laundering and ...
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News
HTEC wins Morrisons loyalty card contract
HTEC, the supplier of card services to many forecourt operators, has announced a major new contract with Morrisons. The contract, for the design and build of the loyalty platform for Morrisons new price match and points card ‘Match & More’, commenced earlier in the year and the roll-out of the ...
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News
CCTV developed for unmanned operation
High-tech CCTV systems have now developed to a stage where they are a viable way of operating unmanned forecourts and allowing 24-hour operation of sites that are manned during the day, according to Farsight Security Services. Malcolm O’Shea Barnes, senior operations manager at Farsight Security Services, said: "Over the past ...
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Analysis
David Charman - Chairman CWA
The end of 2014 is fast approaching and a major subject on people’s minds is UKIP and immigration. ’Take us out of Europe’, they cry and send back the illegal immigrants to their country of origin. This influx of keen, young labour has been coming for decades of course, but ...
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News
Ma Fra introduces Italian chemicals
A company has been set up to distribute car wash chemicals from the Italian company Ma Fra in the UK. Tony Davies, director of Ma Fra Limited, said the superior chemical performance and reduced dosing were already bringing cash savings of 60% to 70% on the chemical costs of both ...
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NewsPRA claims credit for continued fuel duty freeze
The PRA is claiming credit after the Chancelllor George Osborne revealed that he had resisted the temptation to increase fuel duty in his Autumn Statement. In his address to Parliament, the Chancellor said: “Despite falling fuel prices let me make this clear. We’ve cut fuel duty and we will keep ...
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News
Just Dance with Coke
Coca-Cola is unveiling the next step in its global partnership with game manufacturer Ubisoft, which is designed to grow sales of the 250ml slimline can. New packs across the 250ml Coca-Cola portfolio give consumers access to unique content for the game Just Dance Now.Each pack features a QR code that ...
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News
High-profile companies flocking to The Forecourt Show
Make a date in your diary for 20 – 22 April because that’s when The Forecourt Show will take place at the NEC Birmingham, alongside National Convenience Show and Farm Shop & Deli Show, showcasing more than 600 exhibitors and brands. Many of the biggest suppliers in the forecourt industry ...
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News
David’s in growth
Former Forecourt Trader of the Year winner David Charman has joined the Retailer Advisory Panel of Unilever’s Partners for Growth unbiased category advice programme.
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News
Day in the Life: Guy Pulham
In 2011 we changed our organisation to better reflect the needs of our customers. Our main sales channels are now split between national customers (large group dealers and UK wholesale customers looked after by national account managers in head office) and regional customers (local retail and wholesale customers who want ...
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News
Two diesel laundering plants discovered
Investigations into theft from oil pipelines in the south of England have led to the discovery of two suspected diesel laundering plants, capable of evading an estimated £12m in duty.The plants, in Essex and Merseyside, have been dismantled by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).The discovery of the plants, capable of ...
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NewsShop Doctor: In the surgery this month - Wild Goose Garage, Dursley, Gloucestershire
LOCATION: Wild Goose Garage, what an intriguing name! So, thought I would make a stealth check, then learned that the enterprise had won Best Pace Forecourt in the 2014 SuperStation Awards. Even more reason to make a visit. FORECOURT: There is no pole although the large Pace-branded canopy is ...
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News
MRH in over-charging row on Facebook
MRH has found itself at the centre of a social media storm after a customer shared a picture on Facebook which he claimed showed he was being overcharged.The story was picked up by news outlets and the picture, which appears to show a charge of 125p for one litre of ...
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News
WKD’s festive fun
Drinks brand WKD has two Christmas campaigns one which encourages consumers to ’Gift tag a mate’, and the other which gets consumers to tweet a WKD sign to their friends.