The car care and lubricants category is a stalwart of the forecourt store, but with the emergence of valeting hubs on the same sites it is taking on an even greater level of importance with drivers buying across the two areas.
We dive into the car care displays and strategies of five operators who were shortlisted out of a total of 33 entries for the category in this year’s Forecourt Trader Awards.
Ascona Refinery Service Station, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire
Top 50 Indie Ascona attributes appointing a dedicated member of staff to look after its car care fixture to the section accounting for 5% of total shop turnover at its Refinery Service Station in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.
The BP/Nisa branded forecourt benefits from a wide assortment of customers: locals, commuters, workers at a nearby oil refinery, passing trade linked to The Kelpies horse head sculptures visitor attraction, and delivery and truck drivers.
One of its store supervisors works with Newco to ensure that its half aisle of four 4m shelves reflects the diverse customer base with a range including engine oils, windscreen wash, 14 different car sprays, bulbs, fuses, batteries, bug repellent, fabric refreshers, scented waxes, a tyre pump and a travel kettle.
Air fresheners feature prominently, and the section incorporates Gadjet phone accessories, adaptors, cables and gadgets which have contributed over £5,000 of sales in under three months, and to the 3% year-on-year sales growth for the section.
Included also is a dedicated HGV range including cleaning products, bulbs, and steering wheel accessories. And its DSL pump top promotions add another layer to the offer, with a rotating range of home, lifestyle and tech products that change every three weeks.
MFG Wellington, Somerset
The car care section at MFG Wellington in Somerset complements the site’s four jet wash bays, automated car wash, and a suite of airlines and combi units, providing a full vehicle care solution in one location.
Advertising the valeting services on in-store digital screens has helped to reinforce the connection between the car wash and car care section.
The site’s range is tailoried to meet the needs of both everyday motorists and HGV drivers with a wide range of cleaning products, chrome and metal polishes, motor oils, valeting essentials and cab accessories.
Best-sellers, promotions and seasonal lines are highlighted to encourage impulse purchases.
Park Thieves Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Last year’s winning car care outlet in the Forecourt Trader Awards, Park Thieves Lane, continues to engage with its commercial and commuter traffic.
Located just off the busy A5 with direct access to North Wales, Cheshire, and the M54 corridor, the site benefits from a strong flow of HGV drivers, as well as delivery drivers servicing its onsite parcel lockers.
As such one of three bays designated to car care is concentrated on commercial drivers with larger-format and commercial-grade products such as AdBlue canisters and heavy-duty screen wash on-shelf.
And the business, supplied by CDG, is developing Driver Essentials Kits – for winter and for summer – to increase basket size from HGV and van drivers.
By splitting the display into three bays products are easier to find. The first bay is devoted to Shell lubricants, using Shell QR technology to provide customers with at the shelf guidance.
The second bay is dedicated to general car maintenance and accessories, including screenwash, bulbs, air fresheners, valeting and products making it easier for customers to service their vehicle at home.
As a result car care accounts for 7% of overall store turnover at Park Thieves Lane, and over the past 12 months the category has grown year-on-year in value by 15%.
Tinkerbell Service Station, Barford St Martin, Wiltshire
SJS Group shuns a one-size-fits-all approach with car care at its Tinkerbell Service Station, where it instead has adapted its range to meet the demands of its rural location.
Its four-metre, full-height display, visible from the store entrance, offers a broader more practical range to appeal to motorists using country roads or vehicles for work.
It includes tow ropes, jump leads, tyre compressors, car jacks, metal jerry cans, and mineral oils suitable for agricultural machinery use.
As well as reflecting seasonal demand for items like winter de-icer and screenwash, it responds to changing customer preferences.
It now for example has moved on from simply offering traditional pine scented car air fresheners, to premium fragrance-led products inspired by aftershaves.
Similarly, as the category has moved beyond basic products such as sponges and standard shampoos, it has introduced car valeting chemicals and more specialist cleaning products, microfibre gloves, and wipes, offering customers a more professional vehicle care solution.
It also focuses on the basics, exclusively listing a comprehensive range of lubricants from Shell. This spans from entry-level oils through to premium fully synthetic products such as Shell Helix and Shell Advance. It believes this single-brand approach builds trust and simplifies choice for customers.
Woodman Service Station, Leeds, West Yorkshire
A 24-hour Shell site, Woodman Service Station recognises the importance of making its car care section appeal to professional drivers, as well as to motorists.
For rapid delivery and ride-share drivers it stocks screenwash top-ups, and mobile charging accessories. And for HGV drivers it includes larger pack sizes more appropriate for long-distance users.
It has also identified in-cab essentials such as wipes, air fresheners, gloves and phone chargers. These items are now positioned together to create an easy-to-shop range aimed at professional drivers.
The display also reflects latest trends with Dubai designer fragrance Safaa air spray fresheners offered in a two for £4 offer.
And the site prides itself on training staff to provide basic advice on the category.
- The winner of the car care and lubricants outlet, sponsored by CDG, will be announced at the Forecourt Trader Awards ceremony on Thursday October 8 2026, at Westminster’s Park Plaza Hotel. To buy your tickets visit https://forecourttraderawards.co.uk/live/en/page/home
