Top 50 independent Bishop Retail is converting all its nine forecourts from BP to Harvest Energy. North East-based Bishop Retail group operations director, Darren MacDonald, said that while he expected fuel volumes to fall by 15-16% without the BP name on the pole sign, value sales were likely to stay the same with a favourable Harvest Energy deal. "We have a good relationship with BP but the deal they offered was not commercially viable for us," said MacDonald.

 

As well as being able to make pump prices more competitive 2-3ppl less following the rebrand, MacDonald reckoned that communication channels would be improved with a smaller fuel supplier.

 

"The transparency of the company is brilliant, and I can talk to the decision makers," he said. "Harvest Energy really wants to work with the dealer; we see it as a real partnership."

 

The group has two sites in Darlington and two in Crook, plus sites in Sunderland; West Rainton; just off the A1 at Bradbury; New Coundon; and one just outside Durham.