Top 50 Indie JP&S Services has pulled off a masterclass in refurbishing not only a small forecourt store but one very awkwardly shaped as a triangle, at its recently-acquired Jet site in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.
The family business re-opened Shoreham Service Station – a previously branded Texaco/Lifestyle Express outlet on the busy A259 coastal route near Brighton – today (May 19). This comes after a six-month project nearing £900k.
The £1.5 million acquisition, managed by property agent Christie & Co last August, brings the operator’s forecourt estate to 16 sites, the vast majority of which are with Jet. JP&S owner Visvanathan Yoganathan says that the fuel brand enables him to be “very competitive” on price.
At the launch, and across its estate, Yoganathan was retailing unleaded at 126.9p per litre, and diesel at 132.9p per litre. A BP company-owned forecourt minutes away, closer to Brighton, was selling unleaded at 138.3p and diesel at 144.3p.
The Wembley-based operator is optimistic that its pricing strategy and other changes will increase fuel volume at the site from 2mlpa - 2.5mlpa when it was purchased, to 4.5 to 5mlpa, says operations director Vas Mohanathas.
The forecourt is following a tried and tested formula, with Yoganathan, and now his two sons who work in the business – Sukanth and Priyanth – being known in the industry for taking tired sites and turning them around with investment.
The Jet forecourt, like the shop is compact, but fits four pumps with four grades of fuel, and an Electrajet tyre inflation and water machine. A laundry machine has been removed to make way for parking for three cars, and a container for stock overflow.
MDM Services replaced the pumps with Tatsuno kit, as well as installing new pipework, tank chambers and drainage, and a new canopy. It also resurfaced the forecourt apron. Eurotank relined the existing tanks.
Other attractions in the Londis store – which is open from 6am to 11pm – is the Smokin’ Bean coffee machine, with a small bakery and Country Choice Bake & Bite section next to it.
There is a run of Arneg remote fridges along the back of the shop, including a two-door dairy cabinet including milk, cheese, bacon, ham, sandwiches and pasties. Next to this is six doors of soft drinks including sharing packs. Then there is two doors for wine retailing at up to £19.99 for a bottle of Whispering Angel, and four doors for beer and cider, including four-packs. Each section is labelled with fluorescent lit descriptors.
Also, there are two doors of frozen food including burgers, vegetables, ready-meals, desserts and ice cubes in a Tefcold integral unit. And there is a one-metre display of car care, and a 1m display of six shelves of household, toiletries and pet essentials.
Tilbury-based Link Shopfitting has successfully given the 484sq ft store a feeling of space while incorporating all of the main categories for a convenience store of its type.
It has created the illusion of the store being bigger than it is with large porcelain pale grey floor tiles, an exposed black sprayed ceiling giving height to the room, and a single low height central island of shelving, displaying promotions at one gondola end, and crisps, biscuits and confectionery.
Bespoke touches include wooden panelling behind the counter, and half a dozen spotlights around the store, alongside linear track LED lighting strips. There is also a marble effect solid surface counter top at the two checkouts, which can be sanded back if scratched and gives a premium feel.
Unlike JP&S Services’ other direct managed stores, for which its staff are on its payroll, family friend Krishan Selvam who has experience in retail will be running the site on a “hybrid contract operator model”.
