All Forecourt Trader articles in July 2012

View all stories from this issue.

  • News

    Mace retailers get into the sporting spirit with hula-hoop challenge

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    Palmer and Harvey is helping its Mace retailers engage with local communities and hopefully boost profits this summer with in-store sporting activity. The stores are holding their own fun sporting activities, in which youngsters are challenged to spin a hula-hoop for as long as they can, with the longest ...

  • News

    BTCC driver stars in Autogas blockbuster

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    It’s next stop Hollywood for current British Touring Car Championship driver Tom Onslow-Cole who has just taken the ‘lead role’ in a short online movie explaining to Autogas LPG drivers just how easy it is to fill up their cars with the cheap fuel.The location of the shoot was Shell ...

  • News

    London drivers warned against ’idling’ to save fuel

    2012-07-31T00:00:00Z

    London’s drivers are being urged today (July 31) to help improve the city’s air quality and cut greenhouse gas emissions by switching off their car or van engines when stationary. The Energy Saving Trust is asking motorists in the capital to heed their call for action, and reduce levels of ...

  • News

    shop talk

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Have you seen the latest Tesco petrol promotion? It offers a staggering 50p off per litre of petrol. Now that’s a serious discount. I know you have to spend quite a lot to get the 10p-off vouchers (which you then can use together to take you to the 50p) but ...

  • News

    Shopmate safety win

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Shopfitting contractor Shopmate has earned accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a third-party scheme that recognises very high standards of health and safety practice amongs contractors.Simon Wagstaffe, managing director at Shopmate, said: "At Shopmate we have always given health and safety a high priority. We are constantly working on other people’s property and ...

  • News

    Results of this month’s online poll:

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Do you think the banks are providing a good enough level of support and service to enable you to run your business successfully?yes 21%no 79%As the cost of fuel has risen to such a high level it’s never been more important for retailers to have a good relationship with their ...

  • News

    Wet-stock Management: Moving target

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    I’ve only ever met one forecourt retailer who didn’t own a mobile phone. He said he didn’t need one because he was only either at home, at one of his two sites, or driving between the two. But he’s a rarity and many retailers today couldn’t survive without their smartphones ...

  • News

    Pouch push for Heinz

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Heinz is adding a new flavour bolognese sauce with penne to its pasta pouches range.Designed as a quick and convenient complete meal solution, it contains one of your ’five a day’ and has no artificial colours or flavours.According to AC Nielsen data, the range has delivered 88% incremental ...

  • News

    Spooky haul

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Ghoulish Halloween lines from Swizzels Matlow include Mega Drumsticks with a black and orange wrapper and Double Dip, which is called Spooky Dip and leaves tongues black.

  • Analysis

    Must try harder

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Arather gloomy picture of how forecourt shoppers view the nation’s forecourts has been revealed in the latest Forecourt Report by leading sector wholesaler Palmer and Harvey. With a focus on ’understanding today and preparing for tomorrow’, the over-riding picture revealed in the report is "not an especially positive one", according ...

  • News

    Salads to go

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Princes is launching four new tuna salads: tomato salsa; French; Mexican; and Italian. The salads come in a bowl with a fork included. Recommended retail price is £1.99.

  • News

    Fuelling the future with Wayne Helix pump

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Wayne’s new Helix fuel dispenser is the official fuel dispenser of BP’s ’Fuelling the Future’ showcase in London during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. BP, as the Official Oil and Gas Partner of the London 2012 Games providing advanced fuels for many of the fleet of over 5,000 vehicles, ...

  • News

    Gulf refuels with Torex FuelBase

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Gulf Retail has approved Torex’s FuelBase epos and pump controller system for its dealer estate of more than 1,000 sites, offering a "significant" discount on each system until August 31 this year.The system is said to improve customer service with faster transaction times and greater efficiency because the pump is ...

  • News

    Epic sales promised

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    PepsiCo reckons new Walkers Deep Ridged crisps are set to unlock "epic sales" for independent retailers. The 8mm ridges are twice as deep as other ridged crisps and are made with a global patent to unlock "massive flavour and crunch for the ultimate snacking experience".Available later this month, PepsiCo says ...

  • News

    Eclairs on the move

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Kraft Foods is launching Cadbury Eclairs in a new 48g ’handy’ bag in a bid to drive on-the-go sales. This new format is described as "a modern replacement" for the brand’s roll pack. Recommended retail price is 55p.The bag design emphasises the elements of the product that consumers love ...

  • News

    Easy ordering at P&H

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    More than 3,400 customers are now using a pocket-sized barcode scanner launched by Palmer and Harvey last December 2011 to make its online ordering offer easier for retailers.Richard Hayhoe, marketing director at the wholesale firm, said: ’"The barcode scanner has gone down a storm, particularly with customers who might not ...

  • News

    Seasonal duo returns

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    This autumn will see the return of two successful Christmas impulse lines from Nestlé.According to IRI data, the Quality Street My Purple Bar was the number one seasonal confectionery product within independents last autumn, contributing £1.1m in value sales.This year it has refreshed packaging aimed at giving it better stand-out ...

  • Shop Doctor: Winchester Murco Service Station
    News

    Shop Doctor: Winchester Murco Service Station

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    GENERAL APPEARANCE: My target is the Forecourt Trader 2010 rural category winner, a Murco/Costcutter Express situated at the Bar End area of Winchester. The enterprise is just off the M3 at junction 10 and close to the St Catherine’s and Barfield Park & Ride sites. FORECOURT: There ...

  • News

    Gulf gives free PRA membership to dealers

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Any dealer joining the Gulf network will now receive free RMI Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) membership as part of its support package.The arrangement is effective immediately and represents another determined effort by Gulf and GB Oils to strengthen the hand of the independent petrol retailer, says Ramsay MacDonald, director of ...

  • News

    Police tackle forecourt crime in Darlington

    2012-07-30T00:00:00Z

    Police in Darlington have joined forces with the British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) and independent retailers to introduce Forecourt Watch in the County Durham town.Forecourt Watch creates a closer link between police, BOSS and retail staff to increase awareness, prevention and the reporting and recording of incidents. The Darlington scheme, ...