All Forecourt Trader articles in February 2013 – Page 2
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News
PRA stages Forum in Oxfordshire
The PRA’s next Regional Forum is being held in Oxfordshire on February 26. The event is taking place at Oxford Witney Four Pillars Hotel, Ducklington Lane, Witney, with coffee available from 10am, and a free buffet lunch will be provided. Topics on the agenda include: PRA - Deloitte study ...
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News
Doctors call for fat tax on sugary soft drinks
A 20% tax on sugary soft drinks has been recommended by a major doctor’s organisation as a way of combatting the UK’s epidemic of obesity.In its report, Measuring Up, The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges describes the UK as the ‘fat man’ of Europe with two thirds of adults either ...
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News
Morrisons buys Blockbuster outlets for c-store push
Morrisons has bought 49 Blockbuster stores from the company’s administrators, Deloitte, as it begins an accelerated expansion of its Morrisons M local convenience estate. The deal follows shortly after Morrisons’ acquisition of seven Jessops stores. The Blockbuster deal gives Morrisons access to a significant number of high street and neighbourhood ...
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News
George Hammond invests £1.5m in re-build
George Hammond is investing £1.5m in a full knock down re-build (KDRB) of its Thanet Way Services in Kent that is scheduled to open in April. The redevelopment, which is already under way, will include a 30kW solar array that will generate electricity for the site and feed electricity back ...
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News
Staff theft up
Retailers have been urged to remain vigilant after a rise in staff theft over the last year. The Association of Convenience Stores’ Crime Survey, which covers 3,465 outlets, has revealed that the number of incidents of staff theft increased by 88% in 2012. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The ...
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News
Cut fuel duty and tax urges PRA
The Petrol Retailers’ Association is urging the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reverse fuel duty and tax rises in the next Budget because otherwise soaring fuel prices will stifle the economy.PRA chairman Brian Madderson said: “With pump prices set to continue rising, the Chancellor must take swift action in the ...
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News
Gun brandished during robbery
A gun has been brandished during a robbery at a BP service station on the A14 near Newmarket early this morning. The incident began at about 12.30am when two men entered the petrol station on the A14 westbound carriageway at Rowley Mile. One of them threatened the cashier with a ...
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News
Armed robber’s sentence extended
A prisoner who was jailed for carrying out two armed robberies on a petrol station in Jedburgh, Scotland, in 2009 has received a further four-month sentence. Perth Sheriff Court was told Craig Stevens, formerly of Jedburgh and Kelso, was caught sneaking drugs and mobile phones into Castle Huntly open prison ...
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News
Greenergy expands dealer offer to include Esso and Nisa brands
Leading fuel supplier Greenergy has added the Esso and Nisa brands to its offer for independent dealers. The new development means the company’s offer combines fuel supply with a choice of oil major and convenience brands, as well as a range of support services.Greenergy reached an agreement with Esso last ...
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News
Applegreen agrees partnership with Subway
Applegreen, Ireland’s leading independent forecourt retailer and Top 50 Indie, has announced a new partnership with sandwich chain Subway. The deal will see new Subway stores open next month in two of Applegreen’s key service stations - Uckfield in East Sussex, and Gorey in the Republic of Ireland, with more ...
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News
Valentine’s shoppers target forecourts for last-minute gifts
Forecourts are an increasingly popular destination for Valentine’s Day gifts, according to new research released today by delivered wholesaler Palmer and Harvey. Sales of sparkling wine, boxes of chocolates and flowers increased significantly at petrol stations nationwide in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day last year – and forecourt retailers expect ...
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News
Horsemeat products were available to forecourts
One of the products in the horsemeat scandal was widely available to retailers in the forecourt sector and they have been urged to be vigilant and to keep checking for any other recalls. All the symbol groups that responded to Forecourt Trader confirmed they had listed Findus Frozen Beef Lasagne, ...
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News
Pro-retail dates announced
Palmer and Harvey has announced the dates for its Pro-retail 2013 trade show. This year’s show will take place on 30th April and 1st May 2013 at The International Centre in Telford, Shropshire. Martyn Ward, managing director commercial and sales for Palmer and Harvey, said: “We understand that retailers are ...
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News
Online ads oppose plain packaging for tobacco
Opponents of plain packs for tobacco have launched an online advertising campaign urging people to lobby their member of parliament about the issue. Hands Off Our Packs, the campaign set up and run by the smokers’ group Forest, has launched a new website that supporters hope will encourage thousands of ...
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News
AA reveals romance in cars
Seventy per cent of AA members admit to having had a romantic encounter in a car, according to a survey of 22,827 drivers. On Valentine’s Day the AA reckons the chances of AA patrols coming across romantic in-car liaisons will increase. In the past an AA patrol has been called ...
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News
Style and substance
Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder but there’s no disputing the stunning design of Brobot Petroleum’s flagship Southern Gateway site in Corby, Northants. Indeed so stunning is the entire site, that it picked up the Best Design and Development accolade at last year’s Forecourt Trader of the ...
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News
Pizza on the motorway
Welcome Break has teamed up with pizza delivery franchise Papa John’s to open 13 pizza outlets across its 29-strong network of motorway service stations. It is also adding additional outlets but would not specify how many."We trialled Papa John’s earlier this year in Fleet and Oxford and were delighted with ...
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News
Results of this month’s online poll:
As supermarkets plan more forecourt openings, can a good independent forecourt convenience store compete with such sites?yes 47%no 53%The industry appears divided about the threat posed by the proliferation of supermarket forecourts, but there are obviously plenty who feel that good independents can take on the financial muscle of the ...
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Analysis
A missed opportunity
After winning a long battle just to get the OFT to consider whether there were competition problems in the road fuel market, the outcome last week was a deep disappointment for the PRA, and the many other groups campaigning for a full investigation.Having provided a mass of information, including detailed ...
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News
Master stroke
west country & wales: 2.5mlpa plus Budgens of Wells in Somerset is not a forecourt to rest on its laurels. Having been named Forecourt Trader of the Year 2012 after scooping the award for Best West Country & Wales site in the 2.5mlpa plus category, as well as the manager ...