Shell is de-listing magazines from its forecourts, to make room for higher turnover items.
It says that it is in the process of removing these publications from the locations that still stock them, following a move by its customers to switch to reading titles online.
“We have seen the impact of consumers moving to digital versus print that has accelerated over the last number of years,” said a spokesperson. “We are exploring digital options and solutions for customers to access a wider range of magazine titles and we plan to pilot this in the very near future.”
Its newspaper range will, however, remain, says Shell, with “no material change to the range”. It will continue to offer national and local titles.
With high operating costs making margins ever important, other forecourt operators could follow its example. Top 50 Indie Applegreen says that it has been gradually reducing the number of sites selling magazines. Its managing director UK petrol filling stations Martyn Brett-Lees says that “we now only have a small number of sites with such a range”.
He added: “We are constantly reviewing our product ranges to ensure we are maximising our available space for the appropriate customer offer.”
