All Latest News articles – Page 320
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News
EC reveals reasons for price probe
The European Commission released a statement on Tuesday confirming its “officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies active in and providing services to the crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels sectors”. It said: “The Commission has concerns that the companies may have colluded in reporting ...
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Dealers welcome inquiry
Dealers have welcomed the decision by the European Commission to launch its investigation into oil price fixing. Susie Hawkins of Cheltenham-based Simon Smith Group said: “We were pleased when we heard it was being investigated. The volatility of prices has made it very difficult for us because it directly affects ...
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Oil companies confirm raids by investigators
Three oil companies and the oil market information company Platts were raided yesterday by investigators for the European Commission looking into allegations of price fixing. In the UK, Shell confirmed it was “currently assisting the European Commission in an enquiry into trading activities”, while BP said it was subject to ...
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Halfon demands tough action on oil price fixers
An Early Day Motion demanding tough prison sentences and windfall taxes on any oil companies convicted of oil price fixing has been tabled in Parliament by Harlow MP Robert Halfon. The move follows yesterday’s raids on oil company offices by European Commission investigators, as an inquiry into price manipulation began. ...
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New report reveals threat to UK oil refining
A serious threat to the survival of UK oil refining - which has implications for the economy nationally and regionally, and potential impacts upon energy security of supply - has been highlighted in a new report sponsored by UKPIA. The independent report by IHS Purvin & Gertz (www.ukpia.com/publications.aspx), was ...
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Retailers to access DVLA data following BOSS success
BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate, has announced a major success on behalf of fuel retailers by securing agreement from the DVLA to enable service stations to request and access registered vehicle keeper details from its database. Previously retailers have been unable to access details from DVLA’s vehicle register in ...
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First forecourt for Simply Fresh symbol brand
The Simply Fresh symbol brand has opened its first store on a forecourt, in the rural village of Weare in Somerset. Work has now been completed to expand the store at GH Lunn & Son’s BP-branded forecourt at Weare, following a lengthy and complicated process to gain planning permission in ...
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Indies at the mercy of volatile wholesale prices after 5.2ppl swing
The Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) has again voiced its concerns about the unpredictability of the wholesale petrol market. In the past seven days there has been a drop by more than 2.6ppl, which encouraged supermarkets to rush price reductions onto their forecourts. However by the start of this week, wholesale ...
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Knife raider jailed
A robber who held up a petrol station at knifepoint and stole £25, has been sentenced to three years, four months in prison. Lukas Cebatavicious walked into the Co-op BP service station on Sheffield Road, Barnsley, and threatened a member of staff with a pocket knife before lunging towards the ...
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PRA stages regional forum in Worcester
The PRA’s next Regional Forum is being held in Worcester on Tuesday 14th May. The event is taking place at the Sixways Stadium, with coffee available from 10am, and a free buffet lunch will be provided. Topics on the agenda include: PRA – Deloitte study into UK fuels market and ...
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Pensioner mowed down on forecourt
A man who ploughed into a pensioner on a Tesco Express petrol forecourt and then drove off has been jailed. Patricia Briggs spent three days in hospital after Dale Murphy knocked her down and drove away without checking on her. Murphy, who had not passed his driving test, was traced ...
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ATM stolen from filling station
Thieves have stolen a cash machine from a petrol station forecourt in Huddersfield. Huddersfield CID are appealing for witnesses after the ATM was taken from the Jet garage on Woodhead Road in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police said that at 1.30am a dark coloured 4x4 vehicle drove on ...
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ACS welcomes Queen’s Speech proposals
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has responded to the Queen’s Speech, pledging to continue working closely with Government on legislation that will affect local shops in the coming year. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We welcome the focus on delivering growth and reducing burdens on everyday entrepreneurs like ...
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Tesco promotion offers 10ppl off fuel
Tesco has become the latest example of supermarkets using fuel as a loss leader, offering deep discounts on petrol and diesel to attract shoppers to their stores or websites. The retail giant is giving a 10p off per litre of fuel coupon to shoppers who spend £60 in store or ...
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Duty fraudsters cost every retailer £40,000 a year in sales
Duty fraud crooks are costing the average convenience store £40,000 a year in lost tobacco sales, according to market survey agency MS Intelligence. In its latest study it found the the level of consumption of non-duty paid cigarettes in the UK had risen from from 17% in 2011 to 21% ...
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Man running counterfeit tobacco factory jailed for tax fraud
A warning about the serious consequences of dealing in counterfeit tobacco has been issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), following the jailing of a 36-year-old man for tax fraud after the discovery of a tobacco counterfeiting ’factory’ in his Renfrew flat. Jin Yong Wang, an illegal immigrant living in ...
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Card payments shock
Many retailers suffered an unpleasant surprise last month when back charges on their BP/Shell transactions were suddenly taken from their accounts following the ending of Rontec’s polling contract with GB Oils on March 31 (see Service Centre, May 2013 issue, link below). Sheila Gee’s Gulf (former Total) site at Wednesbury ...
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P&H launches alcohol licensing initiative for independents
An alcohol licensing initiative to enable independent retailers to take advantage of the take-home alcohol sector has been launched by Palmer and Harvey, the UK’s largest delivered wholesaler. The category is worth £1.1bn annually and in 2012 grew in value by 4.7%. The initiative will guide independent retailers through the ...
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ACS welcomes E.On’s backbilling pledge
The Association of Convenience Stores has welcomed energy company E.On’s announcement that it will be reducing its backbilling limits for all small businesses to 12 months, effective this week. According to E.On’s own research, 76% of businesses believe the process of back-billing for past consumption should be restricted to a ...
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German motorists visit the car wash three times more often than British motorists
Germany has been identified as the largest and most valuable car wash market in Europe, according to new research from Verdict. Germany’s total car wash market value was €1,584m in 2012, accounting for 34% of the total commercial car wash market in nine of the major European markets. Its dominance ...