All Forecourt Trader articles in July 2024
View all stories from this issue.
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NewsGlobal IT outage reinforces value of cash to forecourt trade
This month’s global IT outage, which disrupted electronic payment systems and led to queues at ATMs and ‘cash only’ signs being brought out of storage by forecourt operators, highlighted the perils of moving to a cashless society.
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Focus On FeatureFOCUS ON SPORTS AND ENERGY DRINKS: Sporting chance
With the Olympics taking place just across the Channel, it’s a good excuse to look at the sports drinks market, which often seems to get overlooked as we concentrate on energy/stimulant drinks.
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NewsAF Blakemore appoints Ian Kellett as CFO
Spar wholesaler AF Blakemore, one of the UK’s largest privately-owned family businesses, has appointed Ian Kellett as chief financial officer (CFO).
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NewsConcerns over plans for St Helens forecourt shop extension
The owner of Ashcroft Service Station in Ashcroft Street, St Helens, has submitted a planning application to demolish a storage area and steel container adjacent to the shop on the site, and in their place build a flat-roof extension.
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NewsHighway Stops puts Essar-branded site up for sale for £2.35 million
One of the two sites EET Retail rebranded in a deal with Top 50 Indie Highway Stops earlier this year, is now up for sale. Essar Service Station, Spalding, is on the market for £2.35 million.
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NewsWorcestershire Council’s EV plans slammed by councillors
Worcestershire Council has been criticised for not considering charging cable gullies within footpaths as a means of getting electricity to EV drivers without driveways in Worcester.
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NewsACS warns raising living wage above two-thirds median earnings will harm retailers
The Association of Convenience Stores is warning that pushing minimum wage rates above two-thirds of median earnings could stifle investment in the sector and “intensify the problems facing retailers”.
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NewsGardner family ‘future-proof’ original forecourt
Gardner Garages last week relaunched its forecourt in Huntley, Gloucestershire after a £1.1 million refurbishment that doubled the size of the shop, and introduced a jet wash bay, electric vehicle charging, an internal laundry, and a walk-in beer cave.
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NewsThinktank says government incentives essential to help businesses transition to EVs
The government must step up funding to install fast charging points around the country and provide incentives to businesses if the UK is to meet its carbon reduction targets. That is according to a report today from the Social Market Foundation (SMF), which says ministers need to address the “high upfront costs” of adopting electric vehicle fleets.
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NewsMFG targets self-service laundry as next big opportunity following deal with ME Group
Self-service laundry is the latest business opportunity that Motor Fuel Group (MFG) is focusing on following a deal with ME Group to install and operate Wash.ME Revolution washers and driers at up to 300 sites across the UK in the next five years.
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NewsAscona sells two sites in the southwest of England
Top 50 Indie Ascona has sold two sites in the southwest of England in a deal brokered by Christie & Co.
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NewsCouncil rolls out Kerbo Charge through-pavement system
After a successful trial over the last nine months, West Berkshire Council is rolling out the Kerbo Charge through-pavement system across the district for residents without driveway parking.
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NewsRoyal Mail adds 2,100 more electric vans to its fleet
Royal Mail is adding another 2,100 electric vans to its fleet over the next year as part of its plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
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NewsGridserve opens new EV charger test lab
Gridserve has opened a new test lab at its Innovations and Operations Centre in Swindon which features the latest EV chargers designed to replicate real-world scenarios.
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NewsOlio and Gander unite to offer new Deals section on app
Local sharing app Olio is launching a new ‘Deals’ section in partnership with reduced-to-clear SaaS platform Gander.
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NewsCMA calls for enhanced interim voluntary scheme on fuel pricing
The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) is calling on the government to introduce an ‘enhanced interim voluntary scheme’ for its PumpWatch fuel price transparency plan while it waits for legislation to come into force.
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NewsPenny on the Move celebrates 30th anniversary with 10 more forecourts in pipeline
In the week that Top 50 Indie Penny on the Move celebrates 30 years in forecourt retailing, the fast expanding group confirms that it has a total of 21 developments in the pipeline. Seven of these are acquisitions, three are new to industry sites, and 11 will be knockdown rebuilds.
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NewsChristie & Co sells Blair Garage in Stewarton, East Ayshire
Christie & Co has completed the sale of Blair Garage, the sole petrol filling station in the Scottish town of Stewarton, East Ayrshire.
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NewsRAC warns of ‘Frantic Friday’ on our roads
The RAC is dubbing tomorrow (July 26) ‘Frantic Friday’ as it expects to see a total of 3.2m trips being made as leisure and commuter traffic vie with each other for space on the roads.
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NewsPolice release details of man wanted for forecourt attack
Detectives in Wakefield have released details of a wanted man – Kyle Wales – after a machete attack at the Gulf petrol station on Wakefield Road, Featherstone, in the early hours of Saturday morning.