All Forecourt Trader articles in March 2015 – Page 3
-
News
ACS criticises size of minimum wage increase
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has criticised the Government’s above inflation 3% increase in the adult national minimum wage to £6.70, warning it will have have a negative impact on staffing and investment levels in the convenience sector. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are disappointed with the ...
-
News
Certas parent’s deal for 400 French Esso sites approved
The European Commission has cleared the acquisition of 400 Esso-branded fuelling stations in France by DCC plc, the parent company of Certas Energy. In August DCC announced it had agreed an £84m deal to buy Esso’s 274-strong Express unmanned retail petrol station network, its 48 motorway concessions in France, as ...
-
News
Congestation at worst level for 10 years
A Freight Transport Association (FTA) survey has revealed that congestion on UK roads is at the worst it has been for over 10 years. FTA’s Quarterly Transport Activity Survey (QTAS) illustrated the rate of deterioration in reliability on the road network at 55% – which is the lowest it has ...
-
News
PRODUCT NEWS: PG tips relaunches Premium tea range
PG tips is relaunching its Premium tea range and introducing new packaging to revitalise each of the PG tips Premium tea variants. PG tips The Rich One will become PG tips Gold to reflect its positioning in the category, PG tips The Strong One boasts a new improved recipe and ...
-
News
Government urged to rectify mistakes over LPG
Autogas Limited is calling on the Government to rectify its investment removal mistakes of the past in order to help the UK achieve its low carbon future. The calls are being made after a House of Commons Transport Select Committee report criticised the way the Government withdrew grants supporting the ...
-
News
HMRC raids illegal filling station in Lancashire
An illegal filling station and diesel laundering plant, capable of evading £14.5m in duty a year, have been dismantled by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the Darwen area of Lancashire. Officers from HMRC and Lancashire Constabulary searched commercial premises and discovered the laundering plant on Tuesday 10 March. It ...
-
News
PRODUCT NEWS: M&M’s holds election to find favourite
From 16 March M&M’s will be launching a character election campaign, calling for the public to vote for their favourite M&M. Brown, Red and Yellow M&M’s will be fighting to stand out, each having their own pack on singles, as well as pouches, across Peanut M&M’s, Chocolate M&M’s and Crispy ...
-
News
PRODUCT NEWS: Jack Links in marathon sampling campaign
The meat snacking brand Jack Link’s has linked with the Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 to sample 40,000 runners at this year’s race. The brand will be including its high protein Beef Snack bars in the goody bags for runners taking part in the 26.2 mile race on 26 April ...
-
News
PRODUCT NEWS: Britvic expands Robinsons Fruit Shoot range
Britvic Soft Drinks is adding a limited edition flavour - Peach & Mango - to its Robinsons Fruit Shoot no added sugar range, which is available to order now, with supporting in-store activation from June. It contains no added sugar, no artificial colours and flavourings, in line the other variants ...
-
News
MFG replaces Murco brand on company owned sites
Top 50 Indie MFG has announced plans to replace the Murco brand on all its company owned sites and to develop it as a brand exclusively for dealers. The move follows MFG’s acquisition of Murco’s retail business on 1 October 2014, comprising 228 company owned forecourts and supplying a dealer ...
-
News
PRODUCT NEWS: Bulmers launches blood orange cider
Bulmers is aiming to capitalise on the trend for flavoured cider, which is growing by 31%, by launching the UK’s first blood orange variant. Bulmers Cider Zesty Blood Orange will be available from mid-March and is the latest flavour in the Bulmers #LiveColourful range. It comes in a 586ml bottle ...
-
News
New agency takes over English road management
The way England’s motorways and A-roads are built and managed is set to change next month after the government announced the ‘go-live’ of Highways England. Highways England is a new arms-length government company that will take over running motorways and major trunk roads from the Highways Agency on 1 April. ...
-
News
Ramsay MacDonald calls for 2ppl cut in duty
Ramsay MacDonald, retail director, Certas Energy, is calling on the Chancellor to protect the future of independently owned filling stations and stimulate economic growth by reducing fuel duty by 2ppl in his budget review, next Wednesday 18 March. Referring to reports suggesting that the Government could take advantage of lower ...
-
News
PRODUCT NEWS: Volvic unleashes £1.65m campaign
Volvic Juiced is aiming to bring an early burst of sunshine to Britain with the launch of two new flavours and the brand’s biggest marketing campaign, worth £1.65m. Volvic Juiced Sunny Orange and Lemonade are both available in 50cl and 1L and are on sale across the UK now. A ...
-
NewsEuro Garages takes lion’s share of Esso’s final sell-off
Agreement to sell 201 sites to three Top 50 independent retailers has been confirmed by Esso Petroleum Company and ROC UK (ExxonMobil). The long-awaited decision, following a strict bidding process, means Euro Garages Ltd has taken the lion’s share with 104 sites; followed by MRH (GB) Ltd with 78; and ...
-
News
New-style PRA regional forum at Plymouth
The next event in the PRA’s programme of new-style regional forums will be held at Plymouth on Thursday March 19. PRA chairman Brian Madderson said: “After listening to members’ views, we have changed the format of these events in 2015 so that the focus is more on networking and interactive ...
-
News
Decision on plain tobacco packaging expected today
MPs will today vote on whether to implement plain packaging on tobacco products, with a big majority expected in favour. If approved, it is expected the new legislation would come into effect on May 20 2016, the same date that many of the new EU Tobacco Products Directive will be ...
-
NewsCar makers challenge ’demonisation of diesel’
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has launched a campaign to challenge what it describes as increasing demonisation of diesel and raise consumer awareness about the latest low-emission car technology. A Diesel Facts guide will be available online and in leaflet form via car makers and dealers. The ...
-
News
MEPs vote to cap debit and credit card fees
The PRA has cautioned that the consequences of a European Parliament vote to limit the fees charged to retailers by banks and other financial institutions to process their debit and credit card transactions, may not be as straight forward as it sounds. Tax expert Gordon Balmer, commercial manager at the ...
-
News
Disappointment over exclusion from carrier bag levy
Small independent retailers are disappointed that the government has continued to exclude them from its plans for a levy on carrier bags, following a House of Commons Committee debate, according to the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN). After deputy prime minister Nick Clegg’s pledge to remove all exemptions last ...