Graham Peacock, managing director of the Malthurst Group, heads the first listing of the Top 50 independent fuel retailers, which has been launched this month in a commemorative supplement enclosed with this issue of Forecourt Trader. A Top Indies Dinner is also being held at the Crowne Plaza, NEC, Birmingham, on Monday, March 20th, during the IFFE and CRS shows.

The listing of the biggest independent fuel retailers in the market has been compiled using straightforward criteria: number of forecourts, annual fuel volume and then annual turnover of the whole of the petrol retailing business.

The Malthurst Group was formed in 1997 and, following acquisitions from Texaco, BP, Shell and Fuelforce, as well as other individual dealer sites, has grown to a network size of 146 sites within a very short space of time. Peacock said the ambitions of the company are to expand further where and whenever profitable opportunities arise.

At number two in the listing is Pace Petroleum -- which has the same operational directors as the Malthurst Group. At number three is Snax 24, followed by Petrol Express, Park Garage Group, Aleef Garages, Euro Garages, Motor Fuel Group, MPK Garages and Calanike at number 10. For the full listing see the enclosed supplement.

For tickets to the dinner call 01293 867629.