As the forecourt sector evolves, with electric vehicle charging helping to transform the face of retail, it’s increasingly important for shop operators to develop their consumer offer to suit the changing needs of clients. So, local knowledge expertise from – and partnership with – convenience store groups can prove invaluable, argues Bestway Retail.
For the UK’s major convenience store groups, building a bigger presence in the forecourt retail sector is all about growing and developing partnerships with existing independent forecourt operators while integrating new ones into the network, says Jamie Davison, retail director at Bestway Retail.
“Expansion plans should be designed to enhance site reach and cater to the evolving needs of consumers who seek convenience and quality during their fuel stops,” he says. “It’s important for a c-store group to work collaboratively with forecourt retail partners and offer tailored product ranges and services that enhance the customer experience, while also driving increased footfall, sales and profitability. This style of partnership working enables the delivery of strong, sustainable growth through optimised offerings at forecourt locations.”
Support with store layouts, promotions and product planning should also be an important part of the partnership agreement, he says. “It’s important to offer assistance in building store ranges, implement point-of-sale materials, and leverage impulse promotions, which are a key sales driver in forecourt stores,” notes Davison. “Additionally, flexible pricing strategies help retailers to remain competitive while meeting consumer expectations.”
In the competitive forecourt arena, digital marketing support, including social media guidance, helps retailers engage with customers effectively, while access to business insight and analytics tools enables them to make data-driven decisions about their store operations, he adds. Meanwhile, with growing consumer preferences for sustainable and ethical retail practices, investment in sustainability initiatives, including energy-efficient store designs and environmentally friendly packaging solutions are also key to the modern-day forecourt retail offer.
Partnership at work
Recently, Bestway Retail expanded its partnership with Penny Petroleum, the fifth-largest independent petrol forecourt operator in the UK. Through this agreement, ’68 stores transitioned to Bestway Retail’s Costcutter operation and 62 Penny Petroleum accounts have been opened over the last 12 months.
As part of the agreement and development plan, Penny Petroleum rebranded its sites to Penny on-the Move and joined the Bestway Retail National Account division, benefiting from a dedicated business support team, which works closely with the Penny Petroleum leadership and operational network.
David Penny, founder and managing director of Penny Petroleum, says: “In 2024, we reviewed our strategy for growth and the forward direction in which we wanted to take our business. This included a look at optimising the many opportunities on our forecourts and, as part of this, we entered into a new phase of our trading partnership with the Bestway/Costcutter team.
“Over the last four years we have developed a great relationship and introduced an aligned way of working between our two teams, which has resulted in an excellent performance and impressive sales uplifts through presenting compelling environments and an offer that meets our shoppers’ needs.
“Since the new agreement we have further developed the shopper experience within our existing forecourts and brought in new locations to the Penny estate.”
Davison adds: “Having known David for many years and having admired the dynamic approach and consistent growth of Penny Petroleum, we have successfully demonstrated that we are best placed to partner with them. Seeing the two teams working so collaboratively has been inspiring and has undoubtedly been a key factor for us both. We are very excited about what we will achieve together in the future.”
So what key advantages does Bestway Retail bring to forecourt operators
1. A 14,000 SKU product range, featuring a competitive pricing strategy, and its own-label ‘Best-in’ selection. Chilled distribution and a broader selection of fresh food products reflect increasing consumer demand for convenient and fresh options. And recent additions include a long-life fresh food-to-go offer, including pizzas and ready meals, which aim to balance value for consumers and reduce wastage costs for retailers.
2. For Costcutter forecourt retailers, access to over 2,000 Co-op own-label products, loyalty scheme rewards, business development support and marketing assistance. They also benefit from direct-to-store delivery options and rebate rewards on eligible Bestway cash & carry purchases.
3. Rebranded best-one forecourt stores with updated store aesthetics and an increased focus on promotions and own-label offerings. Enhancements to impulse-led product categories include food-to-go sections under the ‘Grab and Go’ concept, featuring brands such as Smokin’ Bean, bake & bite, and No Sugar Slushy Jack’s. The own-label ‘Best-in’ range now comprises over 300 SKUs, and is competitively priced, with smaller case sizes to support retailer cash flow.
4. Access to business development managers and reward programs linked to the larger Bestway Group purchasing structure. Additional resources, such as training programs and operational guidance, assist retailers in optimising their businesses.
For more information about Bestway Retail, visit https://www.bestwayretail.co.uk/brand-recruitment or contact Jo Howard at 07935 755813 or jo.howard@costcutter.com.
