Growing evidence of suspected predatory or unfair pricing by certain oil company and supermarket sites is being gathered by RMI Petrol. RMIP chairman Brian Madderson has written to the government calling for an investigation into what are being described as ‘unfair practices’.

He wants forecourt retailers to send him any information which may be useful to the cause. “We are passing on any evidence given to us to the government, and we are asking any other retailers out there who similarly have hard evidence of predatory or unfair pricing to write to us.” Forecourt retailers have been reeling under the pressure of shrinking fuel volumes and collapsing margins. But adding to their grief is the suspicion of below-cost selling on competitive sites, which is killing their fuel business. Putting the boot in further are supermarket promotions such as the recent Morrisons Fuel Britannia campaign, which gives motorists 6ppl off fuel when spending £40 in store. Phil Richardson of Park Garage Group, said: “My prices are so far out that I can sell at cost and still not compete. I can buy fuel more cheaply at Tesco than from my supplier.”

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