All Latest News articles – Page 425
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News
IT crash leaves BP dealers fuming
Hundreds of BP dealers were forced to work through the night after a system crash knocked out its credit card terminals. Retailers said the glitch, which affected the whole of BP’s network, hit at 12am on November 5 and lasted for about 12 hours. Mark Wilson, operations manager at the ...
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in brief
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed the publication of a revised Tackling Tobacco Smuggling Strategy which outlines the reorganisation of enforcement against smugglers between the UK Border Agency and HMRC. But it warned there was a need for significant new funding and targets to reduce the ...
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Susie’s pet project for Christmas time
Budgens and Londis stores have been getting into the Christmas spirit by creating their own hampers for the festive season.Former Forecourt Trader of the Year winner Susie Hawkins has really been inventive by making her own pet hampers for the Budgens store at her Barnwood site in Gloucester. These contain ...
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VAT cut will see retailer costs rise
The VAT and duty changes outlined in the Pre-Budget Report look set to cause a retailer hangover that will last well into the New Year.The warning comes from accountancy firm EKW Group. Jan Mikula, field operations and compliance manager of the company’s Petrol Convenience and Franchising division, said that in ...
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Retailers get their own Question Time
Forecourt and convenience retailers came out in force last month to attend the inaugural Heart of the Community Seminar organised by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). Its aim was to highlight the importance of community retailing and the vital role that local shops play.With presentations from MPs from the ...
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Results of this month’s online poll:
Has the sharp drop in fuel prices caused any problems for your business?YES55%NO45%A fairly even split among retailers, although the majority of you say you have been suffering as a result of the tumbling fuel prices. Hopefully things will start to improve now that forecourt prices seem to be falling ...
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NewsWarnings voiced over pre-budget report
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is among the industry groups which today criticised the chancellor’s Pre-Budget report for not going far enough to help retailers. Shane Brennan, ACS public affairs director, said: “The chancellor has made some dramatic changes to the tax environment for businesses. We welcome a ...
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Chancellor cuts VAT to 15%
Alistair Darling has cut VAT from 17.5% to 15% as part of his pre-Budget report designed to boost the economy. The chancellor said the tax cut would start on Monday and last for 13 months. However, he added that duty on petrol,alcohol and tobacco would be increased – ...
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ACS calls for business rate freeze
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the chancellor to take immediate and decisive action to postpone increases in business rates planned for next year.ACS public affairs director Shane Brennan said: “Retailers are facing a dramatic increase in their rate bill in both 2009 and 2010. Given the ...
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Asda kicks off new price war
Asda has kicked off a new price war by slashing fuel prices – and claiming motorists are being “ripped off” at the pumps. The supermarket announced yesterday that it was lowering the cost of a litre of unleaded to 90.9p, its 10thconsecutive cut in petrol prices since July. It also ...
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Gulf adds new batch of sites
Gulf Retail has signed five more sites around the country to add to its stable of dealers. The forecourts, all independents run by different owners, have recently opened under Gulf or aredue to open before the year-end.Two of the sites are in Fife, Scotland – Dairsie Autopoint, Main Street, ...
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Turtlewax moves into branded car washes
Turtle Wax is moving into the car wash branding business – and targeting independent petrol retailers. The car care company says the move is part of its strategy to expand distribution for its Professional range of products which are aimed at businesses operating carwashes.According to a spokesman for the company, ...
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RMIF urges government to work with industry
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) has called on the government to work with the industry to help revive the economy. Speaking at last week’s RMIF Parliamentary Dinner 2008, PaulWilliams, RMIF chairman, said: “Confidence in our financial system must be revived if the economy is to recover, so the ...
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GNE Group on acquisition trail
GNE Group has announced that it is keen to buy more forecourts in the UK. The company, which recently announced the completion of the sale of Petrol Express Limited for £51.66m, said it wanted to buy petrol retailing sites and/or makeinvestments in companies whose sites displayed one or more ...
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Lorna wins Sales Assistant of the Year
Lorna McLaughlin of the Vivo forecourt store in Mountsandel, Coleraine in Northern Ireland was the overall winner of the Sales Assistant of the Year awards run by Forecourt Trader’s sister
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CWA urges retailers to get behind latest campaign
The Car Wash Association (CWA) is calling on retailers to contact their local MP as part of a new co-ordinated letter campaign to tackle unregulated car wash operations. The group wants to get the government to implement some General Binding Rules (GBR) – which would make it an ...
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BP names new convenience retail director
Richard Harding has been named as BP’s new UK Convenience Retail director. He succeeds Karen Hubbard and will take up his new post on December 1. Harding, who has been with BP for 20 years,said: "This is the job I have wanted to do for a long time. I feel ...
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ACS rejects alcohol Code of Practice
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has rejected calls for a Code of Practice for alcohol retailers. Instead it has called for more guidance for local authorities and enforcement agencies to help them use the powers already available to them.ACS chief executive, James Lowman, explained: "The creation of a code ...
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PRA "doing all it can to defend retailers"
The Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) has criticised the media for being obsessed with the price of fuel, and said that it is doing all it can to defend independent retailers. PRA director Ray Holloway rejected comments that the organisation was not doing enough to be a voice for independents on ...
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PRA "doing all it can to defend retailers"
The Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) has criticised the media for being obsessed with the price of fuel, and said that it is doing all it can to defend independent retailers.PRA director Ray Holloway rejected comments that the organisation was not doing enough to be a voice for independents on this ...