All Forecourt Trader articles in October 2004
View all stories from this issue.
-
News
And he spoke too soon
While having a satisfying rant over stamps, Steve had tempted fate by saying that at least the reduction on margins for phone cards had finally stopped. Oh dear. Five days later, down they went again. His next delivery from Dextra Solutions revealed margins reduced to as low as 3.5 per ...
-
News
Signs for the times
Signage and display specialist, Signwaves, has developed a new poster display unit for forecourts.The distinctive Sentinel unit has been designed to improve poster loading efficiency and reduce health and safety risks.“Sentinel is the ultimate large format poster unit – easy to use, no sharp corners or trip hazards and superb ...
-
Analysis
Sunny outlook
Independent dealers are now ‘catching up’ with oil companies in terms of the quality of their store operations, according to the latest report from the Institute of Grocery Distribution – Convenience on the Forecourt 2004. The report shows that most forecourt sites now have some form of shop, with almost ...
-
News
Stamping out profits
Do you sell stamps? If so you’ve probably noticed the reduction in margin on second class stamps to three per cent. Were you informed? I must admit, if there was a whole heap of hype as claimed by Royal Mail, I missed it. Steve Dyer, from Thornfalcon Garage in Taunton, ...
-
News
Lifeline for Scottish retailers
All rural petrol stations in Scotland will be able to apply for funding from a scheme that supports the availability of fuel in rural Scotland.Following a review into the Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme, it was found that its travel, economic and environmental benefits to rural communities far exceeded the ...
-
News
Rizla’s regular launch
Following the successful introduction of Rizla King Size Slim Silver last year, Imperial Tobacco is launching Rizla Regular Sliver on October 1. Regular Silver will be packaged in ourters of 50 booklets offering retailers profit margins of around 50%, or 17.5p on every booklet sold at the recommended retail ...
-
News
Mo’gas: An irreverent view from the network
SO FAREWELL, THEN, Kuwait – or not as the case may be! After months of speculation over whether it would be BP or Total, now we know – it’s neither. The curious outcome to the Kuwait (Dutch?) auction is perhaps a fitting end to the curious saga of one of ...
-
News
Halloween treats
Walkers has launched two limited editions – Quavers Ghosts available in cheese flavour and Monster Munch Spooky Tongue in Pickled Onion flavour – to appeal to the growing Halloween market. Walkers Trade marketing manager Nicky Seal, said: “Halloween is becoming an increasingly important event in the UK calendar, with Halloween ...
-
News
Watch out for food trends says report
Forecourt retailers have to react quickly to new market trends and developments in shop product lines if they want to develop a contemporary shop offering to compete with traditional convenience stores, according to a new report by independent market analyst, Datamonitor. One such recent development is the stocking of low-carbohydrate ...
-
News
Walkers’ festive frenzy
Walkers is launching its biggest Christmas range which includes Christmas Turkey and Paxo flavoured crisps, limited edition Sensations Nuts, seasonal Sensations flavours, Doritos Decorations and Doritos Christmas Dip, and Sharing Big Bags of New French Fries, Square and Quavers.The seasonal offerings also include Christmas Pan Fried Sausage and Sage flavour ...
-
News
Well earned
It’s been a hard day at work, it’s late, and now you have a splitting headache, but the cupboard is bare of all painkillers, the chemist is shut, and who wants to park up at Sainsbury’s just for a packet of paracetamol? This is probably a recognisable scenario for many ...
-
News
Melt down
No matter how far round the world you go, it seems the problems of petrol retailers are the same. In Australia the talk is all about low fuel margins, struggling independents, discounting supermarkets and the need to develop a good convenience store. It’s a familiar tale, albeit with a different ...
-
News
Don’t be taken in
I read an article which concentrated on the recent volatile rise of the oil price. This commodity is in short supply and has a growing demand. We are told that problems in Russia/Nigeria Venezuela/Iraq or demand in China/India/USA are to blame, and each news item from any of these countries ...
-
News
Delightful tasting
Mars Delight is to be part of a £1.7 million sampling activity that will target women with nearly four million full-size bars, in the hope they will experience ‘delightful’ moments.Heading up the sampling campaign will be teams of hit squads who will target 17 major UK cities and towns including ...
-
News
McCoys crisps are hot stuff
A limited edition McCoy’s ridge cut crisp in Honey Roast Ham & Mustard flavour has been launched by United Biscuits UK as part of its continuing campaign to grow market share and increase sales in the snacks market. The new limited-edition flavour, which will benefit from a £3.5 million media ...
-
News
Coffee Nation in Tesco Express deal
Around 100 Esso-branded forecourts are among 150 Tesco Express stores to offer Coffee Nation’s self-serve gourmet coffee stations by March 2005. The deal marks Tesco’s first steps into the premium coffee-to-go market and Coffee Nation’s first major presence in the UK high street. Founded in 1999 by entrepreneur Martyn Dawes, ...
-
News
Country charms
Set on a main road into the Royal Naval Port town of Dartmouth, Devon, Townstal Road Garage has a powerful selling point to keep customers coming back. Aside from the distinctive BP branding on the forecourt and Spar shop fascia, locally sourced products are proving a big hit with shoppers. ...
-
News
It’s free - but there’s a catch
Here is a bit of a masterclass on ‘free’ drinks coolers. When Mohammed Arif bought his filling station and store two months ago in Cannock, Staffordshire, he thought he had bought all the fixtures and fittings as part of the deal. He renamed the business Top Shop Services, filled the ...
-
News
Moveable car wash
Eco Technical Services Ltd has come up with a new design for a portable car wash with oil/water separator and water recycling equipment.Branded Mobay, the system is supported by the international company Freylit who has granted sole UK distribution of their Class 1 oil/water separator and water recycling equipment to ...
-
News
Robinson plans explosive campaign
Robinsons is to benefit from a £2.5 million ‘Autumn Fun’ campaign, including TV ads, a national door-drop campaign, and in-store and on-line activity, culminating in Robinsons sponsorship of two high-profile firework events in November. The six-week campaign, which kicks off this month, sees 1.5 million leaflets with money-off vouchers and ...