All Forecourt Trader articles in March 2005
View all stories from this issue.
-
News
Whats the story
Newspapers and magazines have been hitting the headlines themselves lately, with the ongoing debate over territorial supply and carriage charges, not to mention the regular wrangles over inserts and returns. Not surprisingly, then, many retailers, independents in particular, might be left wondering whether the category is worth the hassle – ...
-
News
New-look Smarties
Nestlé Rowntree’s Smarties tube is being given a contemporary new look with the launch of the six-sided ‘Hexatube’. This is the first ever change of the traditional Smarties tube since the product was launched 67 years ago.The hexagonal tube comes with a resealable flip-top lid and the familiar letter on ...
-
News
Majors net a winner
July 1 last year saw ConocoPhillips go live with a major initiative to improve two-way communications with its Jet dealers through the launch of a secure customer extranet website and an end to paper invoicing. Two months later the CPNet online invoicing development scooped Jet the award for Best Oil ...
-
News
Mo’gas: An irreverent view from the network
OH LIFE WAS SO MUCH SIMPLER back then. A row of petrol pumps, a couple of old codgers to take the money and all stock control consisted of was counting the oil cans on the trolley and wondering each month why the UCL receipts never matched the amount that had ...
-
News
No windfall for ’indies’
The huge oil company profits announced recently by Shell and BP are no benefit to independent fuel distributors, according to Susan Hancock, chief executive of the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers. “These suppliers have not benefited from the same ‘windfall’, as they purchase their supplies from the major oil companies at ...
-
News
Let the good times roll
For three days in March (8-10) the Birmingham NEC will be packed full of forecourt experts – companies whose products have been tailored for the sector and whose staff will be on hand to offer their advice and help. The event is of course the International Forecourt & Fuel Equipment ...
-
NewsMoving goalposts
The BP Connect programme continues to roll on with 170 sites now in operation, 10 under construction, and another 50 scheduled for development this year. And BP’s retail director Graham Sims is looking forward to the grand opening later this year of the two biggest Connect outlets in Europe. “They ...
-
News
Gian strawbs for sharing
Haribo has launched a family-sized bag of its best-selling Giant Strawbs countline. The strawberry-shaped jelly sweet containing real strawberry juice has a rrp of 99p to £1.02, and the bags re packed in outers of 12.Rory Goodwin, sales director of Haribo, said: “We are upbeat about the sales prospects for ...
-
News
More flavours for sensations
Walkers is adding a new limited edition flavour and two selection four-packs to its Sensations range.Roasted onion & balsamic vinegar, and the Sensations Crisps and Sensations Eastern selections will be supported by a £2m ad campaign featuring Gary Lineker and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.The new flavour has a rrp of 40p while ...
-
News
It’s enough to make you sick
We are all more or less used to the try-it-on culture but when customers return stuff along with threats “to report you”, you are bound to look over your shoulder.I had a call from Hari Singh, who trades in Liverpool, concerning a customer who brought back an empty packet of ...
-
NewsTriple Eight Group - Spar/BP, Wilton Road, Salisbury
I have long wanted to visit a Triple Eight Group site, so finding myself close to Salisbury I soon located the joint-branded Spar/BP forecourt on Wilton Road, part of the busy A36 Southampton/ Bath road. It is on the Wilton side of Salisbury, a mile from the city centre, ...
-
News
Driving down drive-offs
I must put my hand up and say that I did a drive-off the other day. However, it was at my local station and I did wave at the checkout a lot as I drove very slowly out and point to the husband who was waiting in the queue to ...
-
News
Retail is detail
Attention to detail can make the difference between average and outstanding. Try using the following rules – courtesy of Harris International Marketing – to enhance your overall store offer. Shoppers have more choice than ever of where to buy snacks and top-up items – make sure it’s your store they ...
-
News
CTAC targets hold-ups
Anti-crime system specialist CTAC claims to have produced an effective answer to the problem of armed robberies on petrol forecourts with the launch of its Neo Digital Recording System and purpose-built British Standard Central Monitoring Station. The system uses fixed or pendant-type panic buttons, and motion detectors for after-hour’s intrusion, ...
-
News
Texaco copies Jet in retail retreat
Texaco has given up trying to make money out of running service stations and is planning to sell all its UK company owned network, just as ConocoPhillips did with its Jet-branded sites more than three years ago.News of the oil company intending to focus on becoming a fuel wholesaler emerged ...
-
News
Convenience counts
Running alongside IFFE 2005, CRS 2005 brings nearly 200 companies together under one roof. Each will be showing off their wares, highlighting their latest launches and many will be offering exclusive show deals.As well as all this there are some special features that really make CRS a one-stop shop for ...
-
Analysis
Here comes Somerfield
Somerfield has become the latest supermarket to state its claim on the forecourt sector, following an acquisition of 140 Texaco sites for £90m. But as Forecourt Trader went to press, Somerfield announced that it was to sell these sites on to Palmer Capital Partners and Deutsche Property Asset Management, who ...
-
News
Come and join our working lunches
Make sure you come along to Forecourt Trader’s Working Lunch sessions at the International Forecourt and Fuel Equipment Exhibition this month, and take part in the discussions.Taking place each day at 12.45pm on the Forecourt Live! area, we will be covering three major topics – one each day. On the ...
-
News
Chill factor
With the likes of Sainsbury and Tesco on the forecourt convenience shopping scene, independent operators are increasingly faced with the challenge to develop their fresh and chilled foods offering. And judging by some of the independent sites in the network, many are succeeding too. Those that have the support ...
-
News
Easy chilling with slimline Valera cabinet
Valera is introducing a new slimline version of its popular remote multi-deck range of refrigeration equipment, which is suitable for dairy products, food-on-the-go, fruit and vegetables or fresh, pre-packed meat products. The unit has been designed to fit through a standard doorway, but without compromising on capacity and product display. ...