Philip and Lesley Tout of Budgens Nailsea in Bristol were the Forecourt Trader of the Year winners last night at a glittering awards ceremony at the London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane. The evening was hosted by Shaun Williamson of Eastenders fame, and featured a James Bond theme with a lookalike Jaws, gold-painted girls and a ’Casino Royale’ complementing a great line-up of entertainment. It was attended by nearly 700 guests from the petrol retailing industry.
The Touts were presented with their award and a cheque for £3,000 by Forecourt Trader editor Merril Boulton, who described their Esso-branded forecourt as "a stunning site that raises the bar in terms of forecourt and store design".
She said: "Already a winner of the Best Forecourt Facilities category, the offering in-store is immaculately presented, and encompasses all the key elements of a modern-day forecourt convenience operation."
The presentation of the award was the climax of the awards ceremony which saw many retailers recognised for their achievements in the service station sector. The results are listed below, with more coverage due in Forecourt Trader’s October issue.
The main sponsor of the event was Palmer & Harvey McLane. The other category sponsors were American Express,Coca-Cola Enterprises, Convenience Distribution Group, Country Choice, Gilbarco Veeder – Root, Ginsters, Imperial Tobacco, Nestle Rowntree, Simply Coffee, Torex, Walkers and Walls.
FORECOURT TRADER AWARDS 2008
SPECIALIST PRODUCT CATEGORIES
BEST SITE WITH A LICENCE TO SELL ALCOHOL
Tracy McGuire from Shaw Petroleum, Huddersfield
BEST CAR CARE AND LUBRICANTS OUTLET
Michael Wass, Co-operative Group Alnwick, Northumberland
BEST DISPLAY OF CHILLED FOOD
Gary Brady, Spar Dundonald, Belfast
BEST CONFECTIONERY OUTLET
Farukh Rizvi, Roadchef MSA, M25 Clacket Lane North, Kent
BEST CRISPS AND SNACKS OUTLET
Asim Baig from Phoenix Filling Station, Glasgow
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE
Andrew White from Spar Castlerock Road, Coleraine, Belfast
BEST FOOD-TO-GO OUTLET
David Hammond, Tates Spar Battlefield Service Station, Battlefield
BEST FORECOURT FACILITIES
Philip & Lesley Tout, Budgens Nailsea, Bristol
BEST HOT BEVERAGES OUTLET
Patrick Sewell, Chanterlands, Hull
BEST IMPULSE ICE CREAM OUTLET
Andrew White, Spar Castlerock Road, Coleraine, Belfast
BEST SOFT DRINKS OUTLET
Andrew Hattersley, Rossmore Service Station, Poole, Dorset
BEST TOBACCO MERCHANDISING
Patrick Sewell, Chanterlands, Hull
BEST USE OF RETAIL TECHNOLOGY
Raj Patel, Brookfields Morley Service Station, Leeds
RETAIL CATEGORIES
RURAL
OIL COMPANY/SUPERMARKET OWNED AND MANAGED SITE
Patsy Trolan, Trolans Supervalu Ballymoney, County Antrim
INDEPENDENT DEALER WITH UP TO NINE SITES
Conor McKibbin, Brennans Spar, Seaforde, County Down
BEST RURAL SITE OVERALL
Conor McKibbin, Brennans Spar, Seaforde, County Down
NEIGHBOURHOOD
OIL COMPANY/SUPERMARKET OWNED AND MANAGED
Gary Brady, Spar Dundonald, Belfast
OIL COMPANY-OWNED/FRANCHISEE, COMMISSION AGENT
Peter Woods, Murco / Costcutter, Canvey Island
INDEPENDENT DEALER, WITH UP TO NINE SITES
Philip & Lesley Tout, Budgens Nailsea, Bristol
INDEPENDENT DEALER – 10 SITES OR MORE
Patrick Sewell, Chanterlands, Hull
BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE OVERALL
Philip & Lesley Tout, Budgens Nailsea, Bristol
MAIN ROUTE
OIL COMPANY/SUPERMARKET OWNED AND MANAGED
David Hammond, Tates Spar Battlefield Service Station, Battlefield
OIL COMPANY-OWNED/FRANCHISEE, COMMISSION AGENT
Sivalingham Pragash, Murco / Costcutter, Wallasey
INDEPENDENT DEALER, WITH UP TO NINE SITES
Clive Gardner, BP Westacre, Salisbury
INDEPENDENT DEALER - 10 SITES OR MORE
Mark Carsley, Cromwell Services, Newark
BEST MAIN ROUTE SITE OVERALL
David Hammond, Tates Spar Battlefield Service Station, Battlefield
BEST MOTORWAY SITE
Rosemarie Egglesfield, Cardiff West Motorway Service Station, Pontyclun
OIL COMPANY INITIATIVE
HIGHLY COMMENDED
ConocoPhilips
WINNER
Gulf Retail
FORECOURT TRADER OF THE YEAR
Philip & Lesley Tout, Budgens Nailsea, Bristol
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