All Forecourt Trader articles in September 2003
View all stories from this issue.
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Analysis
Trial and tribulation
Following the trial between Esso and more than 100 licensees, earlier this year (see Forecourt Trader, August issue), many of those involved are finding it hard to come to terms with the lack of resolution in the judgement.PRA director Ray Holloway is no exception. “One of the things this court ...
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News
Tricks and treats
Masterfoods is to run in-store Halloween activity during October to support its funsize chocolate confectionery brands – Mars, Maltesers, Twix, Milky Way, Snickers and Bounty.Masterfoods says funsize sales currently represent 28 per cent of the take-home confectionery market.The new initiative aims to underline the importance of Halloween in terms of ...
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News
Top-up trade up
Vodafone is offering its 7.84 million Pay As You Talk customers 20 per cent extra airtime when they top up their mobiles between September 1 and October 12. The ‘20 per cent free’ calling credit is automatically applied upon activation of all top-ups of £20 or more.The promotion was first ...
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News
Protect yourselves
The Data Protection Act has been in force for a few years now – long enough for the crooks to get their brains around the various opportunities for scams. The most common scams take the form of companies demanding money from retailers for registering them under the Act – and ...
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News
Total’s rally promotion is tops
Response to Total’s World Rally Championship scratch card promotion has been impressive, according to the company’s retail marketing director Malcolm Jones. “This is a fantastic way for our customers to enjoy and become involved in Total’s associated partnership with the Peugeot World Rally Team and World Rally Championship,” he said. ...
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News
We did nothing wrong
Shailesh Parekh is one of the most high-profile of the former Esso licensees involved in the trial, and has become something of an unofficial spokesman for the group. He’s not afraid to speak his mind, as he has demonstrated in the various public protests he has been involved in, his ...
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News
We did nothing wrong
Shailesh Parekh is one of the most high-profile of the former Esso licensees involved in the trial, and has become something of an unofficial spokesman for the group. He’s not afraid to speak his mind, as he has demonstrated in the various public protests he has been involved in, his ...
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News
White winter for Maltesers
A white chocolate, limited edition of Maltesers goes on sale this winter. Available from November, White Maltesers will be supported by a £2m campaign including TV and poster advertising.Masterfoods advises retailers to multi-site in key impulse areas to drive sales. Dumpbins and ‘quick boxes’ should be sited in high traffic ...
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News
Mo’gas: An irreverent view from the network
LAST MONTH’S JUDGEMENT in the Esso case arrived too late for my column, which, while unfortunate, does mean I’ve had a little longer to consider the outcome. Obviously the overall result was very disappointing – Esso won on two out of three of the issues and is already three goals ...
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News
Spur on your impulse sales
Valera has added two new impulse units to its range of Sanyo chilled display cabinets.The first is a four-sided glass merchandiser that offers all-round display to help encourage impulse sales. The unit has adjustable shelves to accommodate a variety of products and comes in two sizes – the smaller will ...
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News
Some like it hot
Forecourt operators are raising the stakes in fast food like never before. Take BP Connect, for example; its Wild Bean Café is going from strength to strength, and the oil company is supporting it with so much gusto that it has even invested in a radio and billboard ad campaign ...
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News
Masked hold up
A police helicopter and tracker dogs were used in a hunt for a masked raider who held up a petrol station at knifepoint.The robber, wearing a balaclava and wielding a large hunting knife, crept up behind a 20-year-old male cashier as he was sweeping the floor at the Texaco site ...
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News
Irish Shell sells out to Henderson Group
Irish Shell has sold its 12 company-owned service stations in Northern Ireland to the Henderson Group. Henderson’s will buy the sites as going concerns and Shell will continue to supply fuel and lubricants to the forecourts. John McDonagh, retail director and chairman for Shell in Ireland, explains the strategy behind ...
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News
Wrigley’s first mint
Wrigley is moving into the mint market with the launch of Extra Mints.Available from September 15, Extra Mints come in two flavours – peppermint and spearmint. Each flip-top box holds 20 mints and has a rrp of 40p. The company is putting £12m behind the launch and hopes to attract ...
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News
Crisps go for gold
Golden Wonder is relaunching its range of crisps in a bid to make them the number one brand in Scotland and Northern Ireland.The company has splashed out £2m in product development – the biggest single investment in Golden Wonder’s history – while a £1.5m media spend supports the brand in ...
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News
Taking control
Despite an increased emphasis on the shop side of the forecourt business, wetstock control remains central to effective site management. Although it can be a headache for many retailers, mis-managing wetstock means that not only can profits disappear into thin air but you risk breaching the terms of your Petroleum ...
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News
Congestion at the till
It seemed like one of life’s rich ironies when Carol Smith had to put the customer transaction for congestion charging through the PayPoint terminal 13 times. “Eight times is the norm,” she says, “and it’s the same with telephone top-ups. Error 2061 pops up.” This apparently means no lines available ...
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News
Strange soda change
Britvic Soft Drinks has been forced to rename its recently launched Freekee Soda to Tango Strange Soda following a legal challenge.Britvic’s category director Andrew Marsden said the new name would apply from September 1, adding that the product had achieved ‘fantastic success’ in its launch phase, reaching 39 per cent ...
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News
James claims first indie Budgens
The first Budgens Corporate Store to operate independently has been bought by forecourt entrepreneur Jonathan James.The Lakeside Group member, who currently operates three forecourts in Cambridgeshire with wife Rebecca, will take ownership of the 7,500sq ft supermarket in Soham on September 9.Jonathan entered into discussions with Budgens about a possible ...
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News
Budgens ’a hit’ in Langford
A Somerset forecourt is expecting to reach £70,000 per week in shop sales following an extension to create a 3,000sq ft store.Before the refit at the Esso-branded Budgens Local in Langford, the site was averaging £45-50,000 per week from 2,000sq ft selling space. When the refurbishment was still going on, ...