All Forecourt Trader articles in November 2009

View all stories from this issue.

  • Head to Head: BP and MRH
    News

    Head to Head: BP and MRH

    2009-11-30T00:00:00Z

    In a first for Forecourt Trader, we set the cameras on our interviewee ­ Neale Smither BP’s new UK supply and marketing manager. In another first, Graham Peacock, chief executive of the UK’s biggest independent dealer group - MRH - asks the questions. Scroll down and click on the images ...

  • News

    Watch it on the web

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    BACKGROUND QUESTION: You’ve done 20 years with BP. Please could you give us some background about what you’ve done within the company. My background has been with BP in the downstream for 23 years, mostly working in markets outside the UK, but very much involved in the retail ...

  • News

    In the soup

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    New Covent Garden has added three flavours to its ’Fresh for Winter’ range. The 600g soups are tomato & fennel, coronation chicken and Bengal lancers (rrp £1.99 in outers of six).

  • News

    The spice is right

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    BP has introduced a winter spice muffin for the festive season at its Wild Bean Cafés. Containing sultanas, cherries, mixed peel and currants, the muffin has a rrp of £1.39.

  • Analysis

    Under pressure

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Brian Madderson has vowed to make the fight over business rates the top priority under his new leadership of RMI Petrol, (formerly known as the Petrol Retailers’ Association). He called for an urgent meeting to discuss the issue soon after becoming chairman of the association in November, and true to ...

  • News

    New Year, new VAT rate

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Watch out: standard VAT rate back to 17.5% from January 1 2010 As if the Christmas and New Year period wasn’t busy enough in the retail world, this year you have another job to add to your ’to do’ list. A year ago the government announced a temporary reduction in ...

  • News

    Results of this month’s online poll:

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Do you think the expected hike in business rates will put some retailers out of business? yes 67%no 33% The methods used by the VOA to work out the new business rates for forecourts are proving deeply unpopular. Most of our readers also believe that the expected increases will be ...

  • News

    A taxing issue

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Where to start when there are such serious issues facing the forecourt sector, as the twists and turns of life as a petrol retailer continue to max-out everyone’s nerves this year. Firstly the rates issue, which has been hanging around on the horizon for some time but, like a giant ...

  • News

    Shell launches trial of Waitrose range in-store

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Shell has launched a trial selling Waitrose products in three of its forecourt stores in the Birmingham area. The Waitrose range of about 200 convenience products will be placed in several locations alongside the existing Shell offering, but in "clearly marked areas", according to Melanie Lane, Shell UK retail ...

  • News

    Highway stars

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Manager Edward Prosser has been busy making changes at the Harry Tuffins site which was the overall winner in the Main Route category in Shropshire in the past year. One of the main changes is the newly-built glass atrium at the front of the store which now houses ...

  • News

    Give it a shot with Lucozade

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) says it is exploding onto the UK energy shots market with a massive £13m marketing investment to support the launch of Lucozade Alert Plus. Developed specifically for UK consumers and underpinned by GSK’s extensive soft drinks expertise and market credibility, the company says Lucozade Alert Plus will be ...

  • News

    Getting in the swing

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Signwaves’ pavement sign ’the Swinger’ is being changed to make it more user friendly. All poster versions of the sign are now fitted with top-opening poster pockets, which replace the existing bottom-opening oness. The company said this will make it much easier to get to the posters.Simon Harvey, product design ...

  • News

    Get your skates on

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Macleans has been named official fully integrated sponsor for the fifth series of ITV1’s Dancing On Ice, which is due on screens in early 2010.GlaxoSmithKline says the package includes broadcast sponsorship as well as online, mobile, interactive, licensing and in-store activation.Carol-Ann Stewart, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare UK marketing director for mouthcare, ...

  • Swan off with some free RYO
    News

    Swan off with some free RYO

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Swan is giving readers the chance to win outers of Swan Green papers, Swan Combi packs and Swan 5+1 Free Multipacks. Swan Green papers are available in a variety of packs depending on demand, including 5+1 Free Multipacks offering six packs for the price of five. According to Swedish Match, ...

  • News

    Fogle in winter walks

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Snack bar brand Nature Valley is sponsoring the Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks 2009/2010.Fronted by TV presenter Ben Fogle, the festival kicks off on Boxing Day with over 700 walks around the UK until January 4. According to Nature Valley, people can join free organised walks with experienced leaders.Participants will ...

  • News

    Ginsters’ festive food

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Ginsters has launched a range of limited-edition Christmas-themed sandwiches aimed at festive snacking.The brie & cranberry sandwich includes sliced brie, cranberry sauce, mixed leaves and mayonnaise, rrp £2.99.Meanwhile, the Christmas Cracker sandwich features fresh British turkey breast, bacon, sage & onion stuffing and cranberry sauce on malted brown bread, rrp ...

  • News

    Protect your fags

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    National crime prevention initiative Raid-control has expanded its robbery deterrent package to include tobacco products within cigarette gantries. According to the organisation, some criminals have been targeting the tobacco gantries within c-stores and demanding that the person behind the counter hands over cigarettes.John Birkenshaw, Raid-control chairman, says: "The smoke and ...

  • News

    HOW TO ENTER GIVEAWAYS

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Write your name, address and phone number on a postcard or sealed envelope stating what you want – Lucozade, Swan, Philip’s or Appletiser – and we’ll do the rest, including delivery. Send it to us at Forecourt Trader, William Reed Business Media, Broadfield Park, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 9RT by ...

  • News

    Have a sweet Easter

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    The major confectionery companies have all released their new products for Easter 2010.Cadbury is launching its new Dairy Milk Caramel Bunnies two bunny-shaped chocolates filled with Cadbury Caramel, rrp 59p.Nestlé has launched the Kit Kat Bunny bar a 26g snack which has a bunny embossed on it. It ...

  • News

    New Year detox

    2009-11-27T00:00:00Z

    Evian is launching its annual New Year detox campaign for the ninth year. Evian Renew will be supported by a £3m spend including TV advertising with roller-skating babies.