All Latest News articles – Page 422
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NewsPRA set to continue
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) is to continue as the representative body for independent forecourt operators. The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) today said that, following a full strategic review, it had been decided that the PRA would continue to be the voice of the industry. In a statement entitled ...
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AA urges ministers to scrap fuel duty rise
The Automobile Association (AA) today met Treasury ministers to argue that next month’s 2p rise in fuel duty should be scrapped. A spokesman for the AA said the planned 1.84p extra duty the government plans to introduce on April 1 would mean more hardship for motorists. With the VAT on ...
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ACS welcomes Brown stance on extra alcohol tax
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed Gordon Brown’s refusal to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol. Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson had previously called upon the government to adopt the measure in a bid to tackle alcohol related harm. He suggested a 50p minimum unit price ...
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BP launches refresh of Connect stores
BP has launched a refresh program for its Connect stores in the UK, with work underway at four trial sites. The oil company said work on revamping the Watford Way, Brampton Hut, Kilsmore Way and Blackbird Hill Connect sites was due to be completed at the end of this month.The ...
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Murco strengthens store team
Murco Petroleum has strengthened its forecourt shop team with the appointment of Gary Pearce as network manager, shops. Gary takes over from Tony Walker who has moved into a new position of general manager, non fuel. Pearce joins Murco from Costcutter where he was national forecourt sales manager. He worked ...
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Retailers have their say
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has announced it on-stand vote taken as part of the International Forecourt and Fuel Equipment show 2009. Throughout the three days of the show, held at Birminham NEC earlier this month, the ACS asked retailers to have their say on the things ...
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Site numbers growing, says Energy Institute
The latest figures from the Energy Institute’s annual retail marketing survey, published this month, shows an increase in the number of petrol forecourts operating in the UK. While only a tiny increase – from 9,271 in 2007 to 9,283 in 2008, a rise of 0.13% – a spokesman for the ...
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Focus on the positives, Fender tells Top Indies
There are plenty of positives for petrol retailers to focus on – despite the recession – when considering prospects for the coming year, Tom Fender, sales and marketing director at shopper research specialist HIM, informed guests at the Top Indies dinner in Birmingham this week. He told the elite gathering ...
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MRH seeks contracts on 150 sites
The UK’s leading independent petrol retailer, MRH (GB), is looking to re-negotiate the supply contracts on half its forecourts - around 150 - which come up for renewal next year. "It’s the largest dealer contract that’s ever been out in the UK," said John Lynn, the company’s managing director. "We’ve ...
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Blizzards are ’snow’ problem for Xmo Strata
The recent snow was no problem for sign installation and maintenance firm Xmo Strata. The company’s crews braved blizzard conditions across the country to help keep forecourts open for motorists. Electrical faults and weather-damaged signs were the most common problems and if they are not dealt with they can close ...
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New BP loos are far from bog standard
For years many petrol stations have been infamous for their poor toilets - but not any more.Visitors to certain BP sites are in for a treat as new loo facilities include bright images of the countryside on the walls, with birdsong playing in the background. The walls are ...
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Consumer cash spend in decline
Sixty five per cent of people are using less cash in a bid to control their spending, says a new report from ATM network operator Link. However the survey, conducted by YouGov, also found that 33% of people are using more cash. It found that for December and January, the ...
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Customer focus is the key to survival
Having a clear vision of your customers and what they want, together with the flexibility to innovate, are the two keys to surviving the recession, says KPMG/Synovate Retail Think Tank’s latest white paper. Synovate retail psychologist Dr Tim Denison said retailers may never be the same again: "Following top-to-bottom reviews ...
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Customers queue up to use services on redeveloped site
Customers queued for the opening of a £1.25m forecourt redevelopment in Gloucestershire last month. Millwood Motor Company’s refurbished site in Cam includes a 150sq m Spar store, Shell petrol and a car wash. "It was incredible," said Millwood’s director Paul Griffith. "We hadn’t even turned on the pole sign ...
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Maximum effort, Mini prize
Benny Cherian, a cashier at a Texaco site in Skippool, Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, has a won a Mini for his efforts in promoting Texaco’s loyalty card. As part of the launch of the brand’s Star Rewards scheme, forecourt staff were encouraged to help customers sign up for a loyalty card. ...
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Top indies on track for expansion
Most of the biggest petrol retailing independents still have their eye on expansion, despite the curent economic climate, according to the data gathered in our latest Top 50 Indies listing, published as a supplement within this issue. Companies such as MRH (GB), Park Garage Group, MPK Garages and ...
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NewsMP to open £1.25m forecourt
Gloucestershire MP David Drew is opening a new £1.25 million garage forecourt development at Cam, near Dursley, today. The new Shell forecourt and Spar convenience store will create new jobs, bringing the total number of people employed at the Millwood Motor Company to 25.The 150 sq metre Spar store ...
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Chevron assumes management of UK terminals
Following an extensive review of the company’s UK fuel storage facilities, Chevron has taken the decision to return the management of Pembroke, Cardiff and Brighton terminals to full company control. The three terminalswill now be managed by Chevron and all the employees working at these facilities will be transferring ...
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BP, Exxon Mobil and Chevron see profits soar
BP has announced record annual profits of $21.2 billion (£14.7 billion) for 2008 despite the falling price of oil. The figure, announced today, compared to profits of $20.8 billion (£14.4 billion) for the oil giant in 2007.BP also reported its first quarterly loss in more than seven years – ...