RMIP name change

RMI Petrol is to be known once again as the Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) by popular demand. The name was changed more than two years ago to better reflect the Association’s status as part of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI).

Increased competition

Businesses are now able to apply to the Office of Fair Trading for the removal of land use restrictions which limit competition against any of the UK’s seven largest grocery retailers. This measure is designed to help shoppers benefit from increased local competition, and has been put in place following the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order made by the Competition Commission in 2010.

Shell’s pump attendants

Shell is bringing customer service to the pumps with the return of forecourt attendants at nearly 300 sites across the UK.

The new Attended Service programme is a free service designed to help drivers with advice on fuels and fuel efficiency, basic car care and safety tips. Shell has set out to improve the forecourt experience by reintroducing close to 400 forecourt attendants this year to deliver a more personal service to motorists.

Five star services

Westmorland’s Tebay South motorway services area in Cumbria has become the UK’s first operation to be awarded a five-star rating in national tourist board VisitEngland’s Motorway Service Area Star Ratings scheme. The scheme has seen quality at motorway service stations improve across the board but family-run Tebay South is the first site in the country to achieve the top rating. There has been a 19% increase in the number of four-star ratings compared to last year.