Euro Garages, this year’s Forecourt Trader of the Year winner, and one of the UK’s largest independent forecourt retailers, has joined RMI Petrol.

During 2012 all 81 of Euro Garages’ sites will be given membership status, and the company will also subscribe to the fuel-price analysis system Big Oil.

RMIP will also have access to the company’s conference facilities at its spacious new headquarters in Blackburn.

To showcase this new alliance and to help forge relationshios with retailers iin the north, RMIP will hold its first regional forum of 2012 at Euro Garages HQ. The forum will take place on Wednesday, February 22. Invitations will be sent out in early January.

Chief executive of Euro Garages, Zuber Issa, said: "The recent economic situation has had a profound effect on the retail business and petrol forecourt operators have been hit hard.

"RMI Petrol has helped countless businesses survive and prosper over the past few years, and as one of the largest independent forecourt retailers, we wanted to show our support for the good work it is doing."

Brian Madderson, RMIP chairman, said: "This is a terrific boost for the association. As well as tackling the Government on fuel tax issues, high on our list is a challenge to the Valuation Office Agency for the forecourt shop assessment methodology to be aligned with standalone convenience stores in the 2015 Revaluation Scheme."