All Latest News articles – Page 334
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News
Forecourts coping well with cold snap
Forecourts and the infrastructure supporting them seem to be coping very well with the extreme cold and snow that has hit Britain, with no reports of major problems or panic buying, although some roads in Norfolk were blocked by snow and police there were advising motorists to only make journeys ...
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New services for Jet dealers
Phillips 66 has introduced two new initiatives with equipment suppliers aimed at increasing the profitability of Jet dealers. The company has introduced a new pump maintenance contract for 2013 to reduce downtime on the forecourt and ensure continuation of supply for dealers. The new service contract with Tokheim is in ...
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Convenience and forecourt sectors provide respite for beleaguered retail sector
Convenience retail – both stand alone and associated with petrol – apparently brushed aside the concerns of the wider retail marketplace in 2012, according to Christie + Co’s Business Outlook 2013.While average sales prices for convenience retail businesses fell by a marginal 0.9 per cent across the year, the mood ...
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Discrepancy between claimed and actual mpg costing motorists £4.45bn a year in extra fuel, claims consumer champion
Figures submitted to consumer champion honestjohn.co.uk reveal a discrepancy between official fuel economy ratings and real performance is costing drivers £4.45billion per year. Damning research by consumer motoring website HonestJohn.co.uk today reveals that heavily overstated official fuel figures cost UK drivers up to £4.45 billion per year collectively. The website ...
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Firms should plan for bad weather to mitigate future problems, warns the Forum
A not-for-profit business support group has said small firms should start planning now for harsh winter weather to avoid being caught out by sudden cold snaps – such as those forecast for the next few weeks.The Forum says SMEs can be particularly vulnerable to the impact of freak weather and ...
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One in three motorists prepared to spend more on a ’green’ car, says Ford
One in three Europeans would spend more to buy an environmentally friendly car even though 71 per cent say they have reduced overall spending as a result of the economic recession, a Ford Motor Company-sponsored poll shows.The survey also shows 53 per cent consider climate change to be the world’s ...
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MFG acquires 10 Shell sites
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 ...
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800 indies will be wiped out warns PRA
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.” ...
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ACS renews ties with Crimestoppers
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 ...
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ACS calls for clarity over draft Bill
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 ...
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HMRC threatens action on VAT returns
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 ...
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Welcomes Break adds pizza offer
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 ...
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Tributes after popular forecourt worker dies
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 ...
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Total re-jigs UK refinery business
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 ...
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News
New car sales up
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 ...
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Greenpeace protestors fined
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 ...
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Top 50 report solid Xmas trading
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 ...
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At-work drivers take deadly risks on roads
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 ...
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New scheme launched to drive down crime in Conwy
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 ...
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Irish operator buys five sites
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 ...