All Forecourt Trader articles in September 2008

View all stories from this issue.

  • TOUTS CROWNED FORECOURT TRADER OF THE YEAR
    News

    TOUTS CROWNED FORECOURT TRADER OF THE YEAR

    2008-09-26T00:00:00Z

    Philip and Lesley Tout of Budgens Nailsea in Bristol were the Forecourt Trader of the Year winners last night at a glittering awards ceremony at the London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane. The evening was hosted by Shaun Williamson of Eastenders fame, and featured a James Bond theme with a lookalike ...

  • News

    GNE Group to sell Petrol Express

    2008-09-18T00:00:00Z

    GNE Group plc has entered into a conditional share purchase agreement to dispose of its main operating subsidiary, Petrol Express Limited (PEX), operating under the brand name Petrol Express, to Leopard No. 2 Investments Limited for £51.66 million. The deal is subject to the purchaser assumingresponsibility for PEX’s bank ...

  • Panic over - BP agrees deal with Arval
    News

    Panic over - BP agrees deal with Arval

    2008-09-18T00:00:00Z

    BP will continue to accept Arval fuel cards at its petrol stations. The oil company had previously stated it was terminating its contract with Arval at the end of next month due to escalating costs. It had told dealers they were free to continue accepting Arval business but would have ...

  • News

    More zva zva zoom

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    ELAFLEX is launching its new generation of ZVA Slimline 2 and ZVA Slimline 2 GR nozzles this month to replace the standard ZVA Slimline and ZVA 200 GR vapour recovery versions.The Hertfordshire-based company says the new products have been developed due to the many new industry requirements, including environmental concerns, ...

  • News

    Stick with it

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Ice cream manufacturer Fredericks Dairies has added three new variants to its popular range of Cadbury stick ice creams.They are: Strawberries & Dream, Bournville Deeply Dark and Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut. Each variant is coated in a thick helping of Cadbury’s chocolate and boasts the indulgent quality associated with ...

  • News

    Sowing the seeds

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Retailer Andrew MacDonald grins as the queue of drivers snakes its way onto his forecourt."Our fuel sales are up 10% on last year," he says. "We usually see a 10% dip in the August school holidays, so this is really unbelievable."Andrew puts the improvement in sales at Grange Filling Station ...

  • News

    Premium Pringles

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Pringles launches a new premium range of bagged snacks this month.According to Procter & Gamble, Pringles Select aims to tap into the growth of premium sharing. The chips themselves are smaller and rounder and come in six flavours, including Italian Cheese with a hint of Garlic, Sea Salt & Balsamic ...

  • News

    Planets in pouches

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Following its huge success in small single bags, Mars Planets is being launched in a pouch pack.The 165g pouches have a rrp of £1.79.Mars’ field sales team will be offering independent forecourts incentives to stock the pouches; there will also be deals in cash and carries.Mars’ trade relations manager, Bep ...

  • News

    Pricemarked packs

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Responding to the growing trend for larger packs, Gallaher has launched a pricemarked 50g variant of Amber Leaf. The new packs, marked at £9.99 and including rolling papers, are available for a limited period and are exclusive to the independent and wholesale channels.Gallaher’s head of communications, Jeremy Blackburn, says: "We ...

  • News

    Results of this month’s online poll:

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Are your fuel sales down on last year?YES (more than 10%49%YES (less than 10%)29%No22%It seems the high fuel prices, the ’credit crunch’ and the grey days of August have hit forecourts hard. A whopping 78% of you said that your fuel sales were down on last year.Let’s hope there’s some ...

  • News

    Mo’gas

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    In the great bagatelle of life, we all have to rely on certain assumptions to survive. When you’re driving your car you have to assume the guy coming the other way will stay on his side of the road. When you walk on a cliff path you have to assume ...

  • News

    Silver lining?

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    If there is such a thing as a silver lining in these dark clouds of a gloomy August then perhaps it could be BP’s stand against Arval over card charges.The fact the charges are based on a percentage rather than a flat fee basis, has long been a running sore ...

  • News

    A Monster launch

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Walkers is bringing back its original Monster Munch snack.The move means a return of the old version - with bigger, crunchier snacks, bigger pack format and retro pack design featuring the iconic Monster characters.The launch will be supported by an online PR and marketing campaign.Original Monster Munch, now called Mega ...

  • News

    Last orders

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    On September 23 Scottish retailer Jean Allardyce will go before her local licensing board to fight to retain the alcohol licence at her forecourt. And despite 30 years in the business, she believes this will be one of her hardest fights yet. And worryingly, it’s one she says many ...

  • News

    Santa’s little helpers

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    After looking at the grocery multiples’ ’silly prices’ on Christmas confectionery last year you might have thought it’s ’game over’ and decided to give up on the category all together.However, Nestlé UK trade communications manager, Graham Walker, wants you to think again. "Forecourts can win at Christmas because of their ...

  • News

    Great Scot for Murco

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Murco Petroleum has moved into the Scottish market for the first time by buying seven sites from group dealer Brownwight & Wall. The Jet-branded sites are all west of Edinburgh in the West Lothian and Falkirk areas and Murco said it is on the lookout for "further network growth opportunities ...

  • News

    Magnum’s getaway

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Unilever is running a ’Win a VIP Getaway Every Day’ on-pack promotion on Magnum.The promotion aims to highlight the brand’s indulgent credentials.It is supported by a £1m marketing spend, including a TV commercial fronted by Desperate Housewives’ star Eva Longoria.Anna Ford, Magnum senior brand manager, says: "Magnum has been performing ...

  • News

    Flavoursome trio

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Wrigley has expanded its top chewing gum ranges with the launch of three new flavours.Airwaves has a new green mint flavour which the company says is set to drive sales in the category by tapping into the growing popularity of spearmint flavour chewing gum - which has increased by almost ...

  • News

    Safety first when hitting the heights

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Working at height continues to be a major cause of death and injury at work.Last year alone 45 workers died and a further 3,750 were seriously injured after working at height while at work, according to Norwich Union.As part of its Simply Safety campaign, the insurer is warning retailers to ...

  • News

    Shining example

    2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

    After a house, a car is probably most people’s most expensive purchase, which is why they’re so keen to take care of them. But are you providing your customers with what they need?Autoglym marketing director David Rogers reckons some forecourts have taken their eye off the ball completely when it ...