All Forecourt Trader articles in January 2013 – Page 5

  • News

    Greenpeace protestors fined

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    A group of environmentalists who closed down an Edinburgh petrol station as they protested wearing polar bear costumes have been fined.The seven protestors were arrested after they seized control of a Shell garage in Dalry Road, Edinburgh, in July 2011.Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard how some members of the Greenpeace group ...

  • News

    New car sales up

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    New car sales were up 5.3% in 2012, compared with the previous year, reaching a total of 2,044,609, according to new car registration figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).Sue Robinson, director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said: “Retail demand drove the UK ...

  • News

    Total re-jigs UK refinery business

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    Changes are being made to the structure of the business behind Lindsey Oil Refinery following Total’s worldwide reorganisation of its downstream business in 2012 into two new divisions: Refining & Chemicals and Marketing & Services. In the UK, the business is being aligned to the worldwide downstream organisation and Total ...

  • News

    Tributes after popular forecourt worker dies

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    Thousands of people have joined a tribute page on Facebook in memory of a popular petrol station worker who collapsed and died at work on New Year’s Day.Graham Topp, 40, had worked for many years at the Total filling station on Semington Road, Melksham, in Wiltshire, and was well known ...

  • News

    Welcomes Break adds pizza offer

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • News

    HMRC threatens action on VAT returns

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    As many as 50,000 businesses that have failed to submit VAT returns will be targeted by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) this month with warnings that their tax affairs will be closely scrutinised. More than 600,000 businesses have to put in VAT returns each month and most do so on ...

  • News

    ACS renews ties with Crimestoppers

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers have extending their partnership this week.The two organisations have been working together since 2010 and have worked on a number of projects together, primarily on trying to support law enforcement with appeals for information on incidents that have occurred ...

  • News

    ACS calls for clarity over draft Bill

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    The Association of Convenience Stores has submitted evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry on the Government’s draft Anti-Social Behaviour Bill.ACS has called for clarity for the reporting mechanism under the community trigger and greater consultation with businesses on sanctions for anti-social behaviour.The draft Bill is being scrutinised by ...

  • News

    800 indies will be wiped out warns PRA

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    Eight hundred independent forecourt sites will be wiped out by new supermarket forecourts by 2017 unless the Government takes action, the Petrol Retailers Association has warned. PRA chairman Brian Madderson said: “This is an absolute disaster for independents, unless the government does something to curb the expansion of the supermarkets.” ...

  • News

    MFG acquires 10 Shell sites

    2013-01-09T00:00:00Z

    Motor Fuel Group (MFG), which is number five in the Forecourt Trader Top 50 Indies, has grown its network to 58 stations with the acquisition of 10 outlets from Shell. Jeremy Clarke, MFG’s managing director, said: “This acquisition adds some high volume stations to our network. They are located in ...

  • News

    New scheme launched to drive down crime in Conwy

    2013-01-04T00:00:00Z

    Criminals who fill up with fuel and drive off without paying are the target of a new scheme launched by police and industry partners.North Wales Police and Conwy Community Safety Partnership have joined forces with the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) and independent retailers to introduce Forecourt Watch throughout the ...

  • News

    At-work drivers take deadly risks on roads

    2013-01-04T00:00:00Z

    Significant numbers of people who drive for work are risking devastating crashes by texting, speeding and grooming at the wheel, according to research by Brake and Direct Line released today.The research shows that: nearly a third (31%) text while driving; one in six (17%) admit to grooming, such as putting ...

  • News

    Top 50 report solid Xmas trading

    2013-01-04T00:00:00Z

    Businesses in Forecourt Trader’s Top 50 Indies have reported solid trading over the Christmas period, despite bad weather, the depressed economy and pressure from the supermarkets. Nick Lloyd, managing director of Forecourt Trader of the Year winner, Symonds Forecourts, said business had been strong over the Christmas period despite torrential ...

  • News

    CCTV camera captures its own thief

    2013-01-03T00:00:00Z

    A thief who stole a garage’s CCTV camera was recognised by police from its final moments of recording.Troy Hamilton’s face filled the screen as he took the camera from the Harry Tuffins garage at Holywell, Flintshire, in November, Flintshire magistrates were told.Wyn Jones, prosecuting, said film taken from the camera ...

  • News

    Irish operator buys five sites

    2013-01-03T00:00:00Z

    Topaz, the largest fuel and convenience retailer in the Irish Republic, has bought five petrol stations which were set to close, securing the future of 82 staff. The company spent €1m on three stations which were formerly part of the Brinkhall group. The stations were located in Athy and Newbridge ...

  • News

    Madderson slams ’dangerously misleading’ DECC

    2013-01-02T00:00:00Z

    The Government’s Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has been slammed for publishing “dangerously misleading” comments on the security of UK fuel supplies. Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) chairman Brian Madderson said: “The press release issued by DECC commenting on the Deloitte Report ‘Study of the UK Retail Fuels Market’ ...