All Forecourt Trader articles in July 2010

View all stories from this issue.

  • News

    Murco UK network put up for sale

    2010-07-29T00:00:00Z

    Murphy Oil has confirmed plans to put its UK network of sites up for sale as well as its Milford Haven Murco refinery. In a statement, the company said its Board of Directors had "approved plans for exiting the Company’s refining businesse. The refineries at Superior, Wisconsin; Meraux, Louisiana and ...

  • News

    Rural site gains grant for pay@pump

    2010-07-29T00:00:00Z

    A remote community-run petrol station in the West Highlands of Scotland is now offering petrol 24 hours a day,seven days a week thanks to the installation of pay@pump machines.Funding from the Big Lottery Fund, the Scottish Rural Development Programme and the Applecross Trust has enabled the Applecross Community Company (ACC) ...

  • News

    Retailers urged to respond to Licensing Act proposals

    2010-07-29T00:00:00Z

    The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has warned fuel retailers that proposals to overhaul the Licensing Act threaten their rights and are ’poorly conceived’. The Home Office yesterday unvieled the plans which include a ban on the below cost sale of alcohol and new powers for local authorities. James Lowman, ...

  • News

    AA backs RMI Petrol fight to scrap Dartford Crossing toll

    2010-07-29T00:00:00Z

    The AA has added its support to RMI Petrol’s new campaign to scrap the tolling system on the Dartford Crossing. RMI Petrol said the toll, which currently costs £1.50 for a car and £2 for a van, regularly causes huge tailbacks which are not linked to ’incidents’ but are ...

  • News

    BP sites reopen after Greenpeace action

    2010-07-28T00:00:00Z

    BP said today that most of the forecourts targetted by Greenpeace activists yesterday had been able to reopen. Greenpeace yesterday stopped dozens of sites in London from selling fuel while putting up signs which stated ’Closed. Moving beyond petroleum’. In a statement on it website, Greenpeace said: "50 stations have ...

  • News

    Xmas time

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    For those of you thinking about giving up on Christmas confectionery and handing it over completely to the grocery mults, the advice from the experts is ’think again’. Jonathan Summerley, purchasing director at specialist confectionery cash and carry chain Hancocks, comments: "Competition will always come from the supermarkets for every ...

  • News

    Tea-break treats

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    United Biscuits has launched the McVitie’s VIP Club which rewards consumers by giving away tea-break treats. Digestives, jaffa cakes and Hobnobs are all involved.

  • News

    Service with a smile

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Stefan Wulkan has been working with ConocoPhillips for a little over 20 years and is now on his third period working in the UK this time as manager, UK & Ireland marketing. He took up the role last autumn and says he is thrilled to be back, although he ...

  • News

    Tank robbers

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    There are two good reasons why forecourt operators need to take their wet-stock management seriously safety and the environment; and because it makes good business sense. So says Tokheim marketing manager, David MacHale. He explains: "Responsible petrol retailers are conscious of their safety and environmental obligations when ...

  • News

    The slice is right

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Border Homebake has launched a range of individually-packed slices for convenience retailers, with recommended retail prices from 99p to £1.79. They are available in seven varieties: caramel shortcake with either milk chocolate or white chocolate coating; biscuit tiffin; honeycomb crunch; caramel crispie cake; brownie; and rocky road. Also ...

  • Analysis

    Retailers right on track

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Forecourts will evolve into a "showcase of brands", retailers at last month’s Top Indies Track Day were told. Speaking at the Forecourt Trader event at Prestwold Hall, Leicester, forecourt design guru Robert Onion revealed his vision of how sites may look in the future. He made his comments alongside fellow ...

  • News

    Real raspberry rush

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has extended its Ribena range with the launch of a raspberry variant available in a 500ml bottle and 288ml carton. The company says the new addition adds a "delicious new dimension to the Ribena brand, driving incremental sales and building on the recent phenomenal success of ...

  • News

    Squeezing out summer sales

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Copella is offering retailers the chance to squeeze the most out of their summer juice sales with £250-worth of its premium product up for grabs. Pressed in the heart of the English countryside, Copella says it already boasts sales of £3.2m. And this figure is set to soar ...

  • News

    Torex works for MRH

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Top 50 Indie retailer MRH (GB) has finished installing Torex’s Iridium POS and Prism SQL for back office across 220 of its sites. According to Torex, the technology aims to "help business development, giving head office a holistic view of fuel sales, operator performance and the ability to ...

  • News

    Results of this month’s online poll:

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    How do you feel about the effect the measures taken in the Emergency Budget will have on your business - particularly the rise in VAT to 20% in January 2011? Positive 17% resigned 30% extremely concerned 53% Not a great start for the coalition ...

  • News

    News from Mini Moos

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Fox’s Biscuits is extending its Mini Moos range with the launch of a choc chip variety. Mini Moos choc chip are malted milk biscuits with chocolate chips. They come in individual mini bags within a six x 25g multipack ideal for lunchboxes. Recommended retail price ...

  • News

    Verco rolls out Midi

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Following the recent launch of its new-generation open-chill Cambridge range, Verco has added three Midi versions. They are 1.5m high and have been designed to match the height of gondola units to help improve visibility in forecourt stores. Like the Cambridge, the Midis are designed to fit within ...

  • News

    MPK leases latest site

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Top 50 Indies retailer MPK Garages has leased a site in Cheadle, Staffordshire. The deal was done by property agents, Barber Wadlow. Partner Adam Wadlow said: "Our client did not want to sell the property but instead use it to generate an income." He added that this type ...

  • News

    Snakes and ladders

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Working capital it’s not all wet stock! Following our look at the effect of wet-stock holdings vis-à-vis retailers’ cash flow last month, a number of retailers have contacted us with their own views on some of the factors that are impacting on their ...

  • News

    Hard work paying off

    2010-07-26T00:00:00Z

    Some good news could be on the horizon it seems for our valiant Car Wash Association chairman David Charman, and the few trusty souls that have continued to support the car wash cause, particularly through some rather dark and lonely days. David reports (in his column on page ...