Forecourt Trader of the Year 2004 PATRICIA AND PETER BELLINI Peter and Patricia Bellini’s site in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, scored the highest in the first round of the ‘site overall’ scores, and in the on-the-road judging, impressed judges with its immaculate presentation. Whatever time of day, the Shell-branded site was visited, the 7,000sq ft store was clean and tidy, with stock well faced – an amazing achievement considering its size. It’s a tribute to the years Peter and Patrica have spent transforming the business from a traditional garage with repair workshop and car sales into a huge superstore with a Costa Coffee shop, sprawling off licence, a hot food-to-go operation and extensive delicatessen – all operating to the highest standards. For Peter and Patricia, winning awards is becoming something of a habit. Earlier this year the site, which is supplied by Nisa, was named ‘Nisa Best Store 3,000sq ft to 8,000sq ft’ at Nisa Today’s annual Nisa Member & Supplier Awards. Site With a Licence to Sell Alcohol PATRICIA AND PETER BELLINI Elliot Symonds, national account manager at Interbrew, presents Peter Bellini with his award. The use of a walk-in beer chiller greatly impressed the judges. The chiller ensures the beer is always cool for the consumer – one of the unique selling points that forecourts have over supermarkets. Highly Commended Retailer ROBERT AND HUGH FRASER Robert Fraser, seen here on the right with brother Hugh and Forecourt Trader editor Merril Boulton, received a Highly Commended award in recognition of his efforts to constantly push the boundaries and drive standards ever higher, and for being an all-round inspiration to other retailers. Car Care and Lubricants Outlet ROSE MEDDINGS Graham Tissiman, sales and marketing manager for the Convenience Distribution Group, presents the award for Best Car Care and Lubricants Outlet to Rose Meddings. The judges were impressed with the range of both distress and impulse products displayed, with opportunities for linked sales such as dusters and polish. The feature was well stocked with brand-leading products to encourage consumer trust and purchase. Rural oil co/multi grocer owned/managed JULIA WEST Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents Julia West and her sister Teresa (centre) with the award for Best Rural Company Owned and Managed Site. A dying breed in the company-owned sector, this Texaco forecourt is a good example of a major oil company site serving the community off the beaten track. It is a bright, clean and spacious site, offering a friendly welcome and a good range of services. Display of Chilled Foods ROBERT AND HUGH FRASER Paul Stubbins (right), sales and marketing director of Kerry Foods Direct to Store, presents Robert Fraser with his award. Judges were impressed with the bright and tempting presentation of the chilled offering. It was well-stocked, clean and fully faced, and most importantly, had plenty of milk. Rural Independent nine sites or less DENIS LAWRENCE Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents Denis Lawrence with his much-deserved award for Best Independent Rural Site with nine sites or less. An extended programme of development has created a supermarket, restaurant, and tranquil gardens to enable customers to take a break from the road. Confectionary Outlet THABET MUSLEH AND SUNIL TANDON Steve Smith (right) presents Sunil Tandon (centre) and Thabet Musleh with their Best Confectionery Outlet award. The judges were impressed by the sheer enthusiasm of the manager of the site, Thabet Musleh, towards the confectionery category. He had a high awareness of the key value of the category to the business; and knew how important a clean, well disciplined display was to the appearance of the shop.lso winner of ‘Best Display of Rural ten sites or more SHARON MCKENNA Crisps and Snacks Outlet SHANE MOJOO Rosslynn Law, forecourt controller at United Biscuits UK, presents Shane Mojoo with the award for the Best Crisps and Snacks Outlet – which he also won at last year’s awards. The site had a strong range, with relevant space for the right brands, and excellent impulse locations such as near the chilled drinks, sandwiches and till points. The store also had secondary locations of sharing bags close to the beer, wines and spirits offer. Neighbourhood oilco/multi-owned/managed MARTIN REYNOLDS Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents Dinah Russell with the certificate for Best Neighbourhood Oil Company/Multiple Grocer Owned and Managed. She collected it on behalf of Martin Reynolds who was unable to attend the evening’s celebrations. The site in Belfast is one of several in Northern Ireland that is setting standards for mainland retailers to follow. Customer Service Outlet LAURIE CURRAN Joy Vyas, senior client manager from American Express, presents Laurie Curran with her Best Customer Service Award. Judges were looking for a clean and welcoming site where staff were polite and friendly, and recognised the needs of different customer segments – such as the high mileage business motorist versus the local top-up shopper. Staff at this site were well trained and keen to go that extra mile for their customers. Neighbourhood oil co/franchisee RANJIT MUNDE Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents Ranjit Munde of Redland Service Station in Bristol with his award for Best Neighbourhood Site in the Oil Company-Owned/Franchisee category. This extremely clean, tidy and welcoming forecourt has been transformed into a true neighbourhood convenience store with its familiar Costcutter branding, serving the suburban community. Food-to-go Outlet JANE STANTON-COLE Raj Tugnait, marketing controller of Country Choice, presents Jane Stanton-Cole and site manager Chris Cummings with the award for Best Food to Go Outlet. The judges declared Lynfield Motors a beacon site for all other retailers to see. The quality and availability of product was superb, the attention to detail was commendable and the turnover of the site was outstanding – such that it could cut it as a standalone coffee shop. Neighbourhood Independent nine sites or less PETER AND PATRICIA BELLINI Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents Peter and Patricia Bellini with their award for Best Neighbourhood Independent with nine sites or less. They also won the Best Neighbourhood category overall for their impressive operation. Forecourt Facilities ALISTAIR CAMPBELL Steve Watts (right), sales director UK at Gilbarco Veeder-Root, presents Alister Campbell with his award for Best Forecourt Facilities Outlet, which he won for the second time, having also won in 2003. The key focus for the judges was that sites should offer a good range of fully serviceable facilities on the forecourt, which should be generally well-maintained, clean and free of litter, with paintwork and signage in good order. Neighbourhood Independent 10 sites or more GREGORY COCHRANE Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents the award for the Best Independent Neighbourhood Site with 10 sites or more, to Gregory Cochrane, store manager of Eurospar Rathgael Road. The operation scored highly in the overall site category. It is a welcoming forecourt with impressive valeting facilities. The extensive shop is well-managed with excellent fresh produce, fresh meat and food-to-go offer. Soft Drinks Outlet ROBERT AND HUGH FRASER Nicky Horton, business development manager of Coca-Cola Enterprises presents Robert Fraser (right) and brother Hugh with their award. Their soft drinks offer was a disciplined display which showed that they know their stuff in terms of ranging, promotion and merchandising. Main Route oil co/multi grocer-owned/managed JAN WALLIS Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents Jan Wallis, store manager of BP Wisley South Connect with her award for the Best Main Route site in the oil company/multiple grocer-owned/managed category. The judges were impressed with this busy forecourt which has all you would expect from a new format BP Connect site, including quality hot food and drinks to go from the Wild Bean Café. Tobacco Merchandising Outlet ROBERT AND HUGH FRASER Iain Watkins, (centre) trade communications specialist, Imperial Tobacco, with Robert Fraser (right) and brother Hugh. Their tobacco offer revealed a good knowledge of the tobacco market, awareness of the regional differences in popularity of brands and the legislative changes. Main Route oil co/franchisee RAJENDRAN RAJKUMAR Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents Rajendran Rajkumar, commission operator at Sgiwen Total in Neath, with his award for Best Main Route site in the oil company-owned/franchisee category. The site is spacious and well maintained with a good in-store offering for motorists on the move. The judges made particular comments about the helpful and friendly staff during their on-the-road visits. Use of Retail Technology ROBERT AND HUGH FRASER Billy Tank, sales director at Torex, with Robert Fraser (right) and brother Hugh. They demonstrated how investment in technology not only improves profitability, but can also be used to provide key information on customer spends and profiles, to constantly improve the site’s offer. Main Route Independent Nine Sites or Less SAM HAWKES Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents Sam Hawkes, manager of Brackenvale Retail Centre, with his award for Best Independent Main Route site in the nine sites or less category. A former Forecourt Trader of the Year winner, this is a great site with excellent services and facilities. Oil company initiative ROY ROLEY Roy Roley, Jet’s brand communications manager, with Forecourt Trader editor Merril Boulton. Jet’s entry consisted of both the technologically advanced website, CPNet, together with the company’s innovative take on customer service to facilitate the transition to online invoicing. Most impressive is that the company has converted 98% of its retailers to using it – some of whom did not even previously have a computer. Motorway Site BEVERLEY HOLLINGS Paul Hagon, national account sales director for Palmer & Harvey McLane, presents site manager Beverley Hollings (left) and colleague Sue Granger, with the award for Best Motorway Site. Part of a multi-million pound Roadchef development which was completed earlier this year, the BP Connect branded forecourt is an excellent complement to the main state-of-the-art complex, which has set new standards in the industry.