Higher temperatures are bringing with them uplifts in forecourt shop sales of at least 20%. However, with the rising mercury also comes greater challenges we found on a ring around of operators.
Here is what they had to say:
David Charman, managing director of Parkfoot Garage in West Malling, Kent: “Good weather is always good for business. We’ve seen a 25% uplift with butchery and soft drinks, but maybe 10% on alcohol with the footie. The ice machine [a Rebus Ice bulk ice cube dispenser] is steady. It will take time for customers to get used to the idea.”
Tom Buckley, general manager of East Sussex five-strong forecourt business Pricewatch Group: “Valeting is actually down; it’s too hot to clean your car surprisingly. Not hugely down, but we are not seeing the uplift you would expect. Most shops are about 25% up with cold drinks and picnic style food seeing the biggest uplift.
“But with the good news comes bad news too. We are having electrical issues at a few sites because of the heat, although no aircon has stopped working yet.”
Guy White, managing director of Laurels Service Station in Horncastle, Lincolnshire: ”Hot weather presents challenges for a forecourt. Have we got enough chilled drinks? Have we slowed down our hot food offering? Have we ordered more salad and wraps for food on the move? Do we have enough of the sweet treats indulgence? Shoppers have less appetite, so do sales shrink, or are there other opportunities?
“I am monitoring tank temperature, and stockholding, and making a calculation of the loss [because of the intense heat]. I’m trying not to overstock [on fuel] especially on spirit grades.”
Goran Raven, managing director of Raven’s Budgens in Abridge, Essex: “We are seeing a good uplift on shop sales of about 20%. We are not doing anything new, as I deem that too risky when we are that busy, just increasing our warehouse team numbers working so the shelves are always topped up and products are in stock. We are doubling down on getting it right.”
Oliver Blake, operations director of Oasis Services in Long Riston, near Hull: ”Over the past two days we have seen store turnover up 29% compared with the year before. The biggest uplift by far is fresh meat at 525%, and we have sold loads of charcoal too. Other big increases have come from ice-cream, up 243%, frozen 95%, beer 92%, fruit and veg 92%, and bizarrely, cards and stationery at 69%.
”Less surprising, soft drinks are up 58% with our top-sellers being 500ml and then one-litre bottles of water, Monster Ultra white, Dr Pepper and Monster original.
”On Tuesday, Visa and Mastercard went down just before the England game. We had lots of cars on site at the time and we had £500 of no means of payment as a result. It wasn’t the cusomers’ fault, they wanted to pay and two days’ later we have already recouped £100-odd.
”I’m holding more stock of ice. In a back-up freezer I have 20 cases, with six more in store. But even that might not get us over the weekend.”
Naz Zokiuddin, who trades as Refuel Forecourts with a portfolio of 11 forecourts: “The hot weather has definitely lifted forecourt trade. Cold drinks, ice creams and alcohol sales are up by around 15-20%. As the days are longer we’re seeing more caravans, sports cars, bikers and families out on the road.
“Chilled items, energy drinks, water and flavoured water are performing particularly well. With the World Cup on, alcohol sales have also seen a noticeable boost.”
