All Forecourt Trader articles in October 2007
View all stories from this issue.
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NewsDemand for greener fuel is here now
Trading statistics about global warming and climate change are pointless – the demand for greener fuels and vehicles is here now, TV presenter and motoring journalist Quentin Willson told top independent fuel retailers at the Forecourt Trader Fuel Track Day at Castle Combe Circuit in Chippenham, Wiltshire, yesterday.“We could spend ...
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News
Safety First
One in five women have no idea about the correct tyre pressure for their car. According to a survey on behalf of TyreSafe, 21% of females are clueless about this element of motoring, and prefer to get someone else to check their tyres for them. The tyre pressure and tyre safety survey was taken to coincide with Tyre Safety Month, which runs during October. Tyre Safety Month focuses on the vital part tyres play in road safety and highlights the importance of having correctly inflated tyres - not just in terms of road safety but also their role in conserving fuel. Under-inflated tyres, combined with bad driving practice, cost UK drivers more than £2 billion in extra fuel each year. They are also responsible for the release of 5.5 million tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere every year. The campaign, the first national initiative to be organised by the tyre industry and supported by the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS), aims to encourage motorists to take advantage of free tyre pressure and safety checks available at participating sites during October. It is also being backed by motoring journalist and presenter of Channel 5’s Fifth Gear show, Vicki Butler-Henderson. She said: “Drivers are clearly not aware of the dangers of driving a car with severely under-inflated tyres. “I have recently been testing a car with tyres at low pressures and badly worn and the combination is potentially deadly.” More information can be found at www.tyresafe.org
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News
Darling goes green
Low carbon cars and higher taxes for gas guzzlers were both on the agenda for Alistair Darling this week. The proposals were outlined in his pre-budget statement on October 9.The chancellor unveiled proposals from a review by Julia King, Rolls-Royce’s former director of advanced engineering, and environmental expert Sir Nicholas Stern. Darling said the country’s battle against climate change needed to go up a gear, with a major drive to get people buying a new generation of low carbon cars. According to the review, carbon emissions from cars could be slashed by 30% in a decade using existing technology. Experts added that it would be possible for the UK to cut emissions by up to 80% - or even achieve “almost complete decarbonisation of road transport” - by 2050. And while the report said biofuels should play a role, it cautioned against relying on them too heavily. Instead, electric vehicles powered by green sources were seen as preferable. It also warned that bringing in more efficient cars was likely to make new cars £1,000-£1,500 more expensive but that this could be the standard within a decade. Meanwhile, road tax on gas guzzling vehicles will rise from £300 to £400 next year.
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News
New crude-oil processing plant planned for north east
A new £2 billion crude-oil processing facility is to be built by the Sonhoe Development Company in the Tees Valley in the north east.The new facility has been designed to process 200,000 barrels a day of heavy crude oil into high-quality, low-sulphur diesel, petrochemical feedstock naptha and kerosene for use ...
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Jonathan James is ACS vice chairman
Former Forecourt Trader of the Year winner Jonathan James – who operates three BP forecourts and two Budgens supermarkets in Cambridgeshire – has been elected vice chairman of the Association of Convenience Stores, alongside Spar UK managing director Jerry Marwood who has been elected chairman.James said: “I am honoured to ...
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News
Toffee twist
Speciality toffee maker Walkers Nonsuch has some of its twistwrapped toffees up for grabs.Walkers is an independent family company which has been making toffee for more than 100 years. It uses top ingredients like full cream milk and brown sugar and lots of butter. Plus the products are free from ...
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News
Results of this month’s online poll:
Do you think there should be a grant system in England and Wales to assist struggling forecourt businesses?YES50%NO50%A dead heat - with half of you wanting a grant system and half of you not. If you’re still undecided, read the acticle on page 18 to find out what grants ...
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News
Milkybar revamp
Nestlé Rowntree has revamped Milkybar to appeal to health-conscious parents. As a result, the chocolate is to be made with only natural ingredients.The move is backed by a £6m media campaign, including TV advertising, which kicks off this month.The company says its research showed mums wanted fewer additives in their ...
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News
Layla’s saucy move
Retailers who want to generate extra profits from their freezers should give Layla’s luscious ice cream sauces a try.That’s because the 100g pots of chocolate fudge and butterscotch sauce have been designed to be sold direct from the freezer - right next to the ice cream they are to be ...
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Keeping a lid on it
Keep food spillage at bay with the Enterpack EHQ-200 machine. The counter-top automatic sealing system provides retailers with a no-spill, transparent, airtight seal on trays containing hot and cold food-to-go.The compact machine works by sealing containers in seconds with a clear film, which comes in easy-peel and weld-seal options. It ...
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Analysis
A Taxing Issue
Filling up at the pumps has got a lot more painful recently. With the price of a litre of fuel topping the £1 mark at forecourts up and down the country, motorists’ hackles have been rising. Gordon Brown’s 2p tax hike has stirred up a real hornets’ nest, with industry ...
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Take the high road
Dave Kitson stands on his forecourt near Glencoe in Scotland and points down the road towards some intimidating-looking mountains: "The nearest petrol station is 16 miles in that direction," he says, raising his voice to make himself heard over the wind. Or there’s one 17 miles in the other direction. ...
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News
A prize and a half
Shopaholics can win a trip to Morocco thanks to Cadbury Trebor Bassett (CTB).The holiday is part of the company’s Win a Prize and a Half on-pack promotion, which runs until next March.There are more than 50,000 prizes up for grabs. The promotion is running on single bar and 250g blocks ...
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News
Official green scheme
Going green isn’t only good for the environment - it can also be good for your bank balance too.DEFRA and HM Customs & Excise have introduced a new scheme aimed at encouraging more businesses to invest in water-saving technology.The Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) initiative lets companies claim 100% first year ...
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Natural goodness
Birds Eye has launched Omega 3 Fish Fingers.Sourced from a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fishery, the Omega 3 Fish Fingers are made from 100% Alaskan pollock fillet, a natural source of the fatty acids.Backed by a £7.5m marketing campaign, the company says the launch will build on its ...
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Tax gloom
Fuel duty rises, grumbles from the Road Haulage Association, the nights drawing in - there’s a strong whiff of the dismal atmosphere of the autumn of 2000 when the country was brought to a standstill by disgruntled tanker drivers.It triggered a wretched period for the petrol retailing network and many ...
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NewsIn the surgery this month – Griffiths Garage, Leintwardine
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Almost hidden away in the countryside is the small Shropshire village of Leintwardine and it contains a real gem. Griffiths Garage has three main offers: a maintenance, repair and MOT service; a forecourt; and a convenience store. All are themed in light blue and yellow featuring a striking ...
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News
Fresh start for HTEC following restucture
Retail petroleum payment and loyalty solutions specialist HTEC unveiled a new brand image at a special event to celebrate a significant restructure within the Southampton-based organisation, and a "fresh start for the future".CEO Paul Cooper revealed that in the past six months the group had been totally ...
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News
How to enter giveaways
To win, simply write your name, address and telephone number on a postcard or a sealed envelope stating what you want – Bendicks, Relentless Inferno, Tangerine Confectionery or Walkers Nonsuch – and we’ll do the rest, including delivery. Send it to Forecourt Trader, Broadfield Park, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 9RT ...