All Forecourt Trader articles in January 2009 – Page 3

  • News

    Government postpones £80 fine for drive offs

    2009-01-23T00:00:00Z

    The government has delayed plans to introduce an £80 fine for drive offs on forecourts. The on-the-spot fine was one of a new raft of extra powers proposed to be added to the controversial fixed penalty fine scheme. Others includes making threats to destroy property and drunken and ...

  • News

    Cost of motoring falls in December

    2009-01-21T00:00:00Z

    The cost of running a car fell in December, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Its Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed adrop in the price of petrol and oil of 6.2 per cent, while the cost of buying of motor vehicles fell by 2.5 per cent. Maintenance ...

  • News

    BP appoints new UK trading manager

    2009-01-21T00:00:00Z

    BP has named David Pitron as the new trading director for its UK Convenience Retail division. Pitron succeeds Andy Davis, who recently took on the fulltime post of European trading director.The oil company said Pitron has been with BP for nearly five years, and for the last three and ...

  • News

    Healthy appetite for retail property market

    2009-01-21T00:00:00Z

    Retail property values fell by an average of just 6.48 per cent in 2008 – highlighting the resilience of the sector compared to others in the UK economy.According to Christie + Co’s annual Business Outlook report, notable deals in the forecourt sector in 2008 included the Co-operative Group’s £1.56 ...

  • News

    ACS launches Community Heroes Award 2009

    2009-01-21T00:00:00Z

    The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has launched the Community Heroes Award 2009. Now in its fourth year, the award recognises retailers whoput significant energy, commitment and effort into working for the benefit of their local community.According to the ACS, entries for the awards are encouraged from retailers who ...

  • News

    Esso and Tchibo withdraw Nazi slogan posters

    2009-01-16T00:00:00Z

    Tchibo and Esso have withdrawn advertising posters at petrol stations after discovering they featured a slogan which was used by the Nazis on the gate at the Buchenwald concentration camp. The ad campaign, which began in early January, used the expression ’Jedem den Seinen’, which can be translated as ’to ...

  • News

    Oil companies slammed for biofuel failure

    2009-01-16T00:00:00Z

    Esso, Chevron and Murco have been criticised for failing to meet government targets for biofuel sustainability. According to the Renewable FuelsAgency (RFA), five oil companies have so far failed to supply any fuel meeting sustainability standards. with Prax Petroleum and Topaz also failing to report any data at all ...

  • News

    ACS meets minister to discuss financial help for retailers

    2009-01-16T00:00:00Z

    The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has held a meeting with Ian Pearson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Economic Secretary to the Treasury, to ask for support for the33,000 local shops that ACS represents during the current economic downturn.The meeting ...

  • News

    UKPIA launches new safety forum

    2009-01-14T00:00:00Z

    UKPIA has teamed up with other industry groups to create a new safety forum in a bid to prevent future incidents like the Buncefield fire. According to UKPIA, the pan sector Process Safety Forum has been set up to provide a platform “whereby initiatives,best practice, incident learnings and process ...

  • News

    Government plans £80 fines for drive-offs

    2009-01-14T00:00:00Z

    The government is planning to introduce fixed penalty fines for drive-offs at petrol stations. The proposal, which would mean an on-the-spot-fine of £80 for offenders, is part of a new raft of extra powers proposed to be added to the controversial fixed penalty fines. Others include being caught withcannabis, making ...

  • News

    Tanked up

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    When’s the last time you cleaned out your tanks? If the answer is not within the last few years then it could be time to act now - and avoid disaster later.Industry experts seem to agree that the biggest challenge for those working with tanks and pipes is responding to ...

  • News

    spring watch

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    The next few months are bulging with gift-selling opportunities, with Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter just around the corner.And the experts reckon that shoppers will want to impulsively treat themselves - and others - more than ever this year. They will just be looking for less expensive options.Jonathan Summerley, ...

  • News

    Pricemarked packs of RYO

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    Imperial Tobacco has brought out pricemarked packs of Golden Virginia.The company says that in the current economic climate, the roll-your-own sector continues its reversal in fortunes, with retail sales up by 8% in value terms, and 12% in volume terms (AC Nielsen, year ending June 2008).The 12.5g packs are ...

  • News

    Tongues wagging over PRA review

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    The Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) has moved to allay retailer concerns about its future direction, amid widespread rumours that its days were numbered, and that director Ray Holloway had quit. Retailers have been withholding their membership fees as they await confirmation of the current state of affairs. The furore ...

  • News

    Results of this month’s online poll:

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    Do you think the changes announced in the Government’s Pre-Budget Report are likely to have a positive effect on your business?YES9%NO91%The Pre-Budget Report received a pretty frosty reception when it was first announced before Christmas -and your feelings don’t seem to have thawed much since!

  • News

    Mo’gas

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    With due acknowledgement to Queen Liz, for most forecourt traders 2008 truly was an ’annus horribilus’ (please note that, in deference to some of my more demure readers, I spelt the word ’annus’ with double ’n’ when probably the single ’n’ version would more accurately reflect the views of the ...

  • News

    New site for Jonathan James

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    Retailer Jonathan James has got the green light to build a new site following a three year battle with the local planning authorities in Cambridgeshire. Jonathan, who estimates the fight has cost him about £70,000 in legal fees and numerous reports and studies, received the news that the site could ...

  • News

    Good neighbours

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    Philip and Lesley Tout walked away with plenty of accolades for their Budgens Nailsea store at our Awards, including the prestigious Forecourt Trader of the Year award as well as Best Independent with nine sites or less, and category winner for the Best Neighbourhood site.Philip says the newly rebuilt forecourt ...

  • News

    Going underground

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    PetroTechnik has introduced a range of new products designed to make its UPP underground pipework system easier to install and use, including an electrofusion chamber.The company says the riser section of the chamber electrofuses to the base, removing the need for multiple bolt holes. PetroTechnik’s UPP pipe ...

  • News

    Nescafé goes large with latest offer

    2009-01-13T00:00:00Z

    Nestlé Professional has launched its new Go Large coffee offering aimed at increasing retailer profits.The company says the introduction of the new 16fl oz cup is in response to continuing consumer demand for larger-sized hot drinks. The cup is 7oz bigger than the regular size and aims to provide ...