All Forecourt Trader articles in January 2009
View all stories from this issue.
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News
Servicing with a smile
Ron Haacke was last seen as director and general manager of the Petrol Express chain, which had 64 sites and was number six in last year’s Top 50 Indies listing.That was before its parent company GNE Group plc sold it off to Murco following an "offer they couldn’t refuse". The ...
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News
Sharing sensation
Walkers relaunches its Sensations brand this month. The packaging changes from white to black to make it look more premium. There is also the addition of two flavours to its sharing range - buffalo mozzarella & herbs and southern style barbecue. Both variants are available in 160g bags while southern ...
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Analysis
Have your say
With the future of the Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) under review, the organisation could be looking at its first major shake up in years. Last month PRA director Ray Holloway revealedin Forecourt Trader that the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) was conducting a business review of all the eight trade ...
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News
Pump up the volume
The box office wasn’t the only place where High School Musical proved a hit in 2008 - it was also a success for forecourt shop sales.According to the main promotions companies in the UK, products associated with the popular film and its branding were some of last year’s top sellers ...
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News
Trading places
In the past 10 years the retail petroleum industry has shifted its focus from fixed margin deals to Platts-based contracts and margin share arrangements. After years of heated discussions regarding price support and haggles over where the competition lay, a solution seemed to lie in referencing an independent body to ...
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News
Pouches pack a punch
The Mars Pouch Collector promotion is back - and Mars says it promises to be the most successful to date.The promotion which, according to Mars, saw a 5% uplift in sales last year returns to stores this month. It gives consumers the chance to redeem eight tear-off strips from the ...
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News
Price-marked offer
Cadbury is launching a 35p on-pack price promotion while stocks last within cash and carry and wholesale. For a limited time, single bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk, Cadbury Crunchie, Cadbury Double Decker and Cadbury Boost will be pricemarked at 35p, with retailers receiving five bars free of charge in ...
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News
Nytol returns to TV
Natural sleep aid Nytol is back on TV this month with the second showing of its Aardman-produced ’claymation’ ad featuring a character called Joan.The ad was first screened last August and was a big success, resulting in a 39% uplift in sales during the 10-week campaign compared to the previous ...
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News
Results of this month’s online poll:
Despite predictions of a generally gloomy economic outlook, how positive are you feeling about prospects for your own business in 2009?Very21%Reasonably41%Not at all38%It’s not all doom and gloom but more than a third of you say you don’t see many reasons to feel cheerful about your business in 2009.
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NewsIn the surgery this month
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Just two miles north of Chichester on the A286 is an isolated small complex of organisations that includes the Summersdale Garage and its Spar Shop. The site also includes the St Wilfrid’s Hospice shop and an autocare centre.FORECOURT: The forecourt is well signed by an Esso pole clearly ...
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News
Match made on TV
Nestlé Confectionery’s Quality Street Matchmakers brand is now sponsoring Harry Hill’s TV Burp.After celebrating its 40th birthday last year, Matchmakers was rebranded under the Quality Street banner.It is available in mint and orange varieties and is now being pushed as an ’ideal for sharing’ product. Both varieties come in 151g ...
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News
Leaders of the Pack
There was stiff competition in both the rural and motorway categories at this year’s awards, and the judges were impressed with the very high standards from entrants.One thing that stood out was that the most successful and professional sites were those where retailers really knew their market - and made ...
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News
A healthier option
Birds Eye launches a new Healthy Options range this month which is aimed at giving shoppers a healthy frozen ready meal choice without them having to compromise on taste.The company says the range has six products, each of which is low in fat, free from arificial colours and flavours, ...
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NewsDoubts over drive-off fine
The industry has been left dazed and confused by the government’s u-turn over plans to introduce an £80 fine for drive-offs.The measure was one of a raft of extra powers proposed to be added to the controversial fixed penalty fine scheme.Last month it was revealed that the Ministry ...
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News
Heinz spices up dinner time
Heinz says it is giving busy mums a helping hand when it comes to preparing home-cooked meals for the family with the launch of a new range of tomato purees infused with herbs and spices.It says the range of four Heinz tomato purees stands out from the crowd as it ...
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News
Total signs pump deal
Dresser Wayne has signed a three-year deal with Total to supply fuel pumps to its forecourtsin the UK.The agreement also covers the oil company’s sites in other countries in Europe, including France, Italy, Germany and Benelux.Neil H Thomas, Dresser Wayne global president, said: "We are truly excited about the ...
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News
Guylian eggs crack new look
Guylian is introducing a new pack design for two of its Easter eggs this spring.Featuring vibrant coloured flowers, the Belgian chocolate company said the new design for the Guylian Seashell Egg (rrp £4.99) and Luxury Egg (£9.99) aims to create a stronger brand identity on-shelf.The range ...
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News
Drive-off penalty confusion
Well, first let me say, how can there be such confusion over the proposals about the introduction of on-the-spot penalties for drive-offs? Firstly, the suggestion of a drive-off penalty was buried among the ’extra measures’ being proposed to add to the current Penalty Notice Disorder. Then all of these proposals ...
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News
Hello to Diet Coke
Diet Coke is being backed by a new marketing campaign with a ’Hello You’ theme, which will run throughout 2009.The campaign focuses on the "pressures and expectations faced today by 21st century women".An on-pack promotion is running across all 500ml bottles and 330ml cans of Diet Coke where there is ...