Tracy West
Tracy has been writing about convenience retailing for 35 years. She worked for Convenience Store for many years and has also contributed to in-house magazines for retailers including Budgens, Londis, McColl’s and Spar.
NewsTop 50 Indie NTS acquires Burnham-on-Crouch site
Top 50 Indie NTS Retail Ltd has acquired Woodfords Garage in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex.
NewsOver half of councils in the dark on working status of their EV chargers
Despite their investment in EV infrastructure, UK councils are neglecting to monitor whether chargers are working or not.
NewsMan arrested after spate of BP thefts
A Southend man has admitted committing more than 25 shop thefts at BP forecourts in Basildon, Hullbridge, South Woodham Ferrers and Wickford.
NewsSlough Council to install 1,600+ kerbside chargepoints
Slough Borough Council is planning to install at least 1,600 on-street, kerbside charging points between now and 2040.
NewsControversial Minehead EV charging hub garners 300 comments from locals
More than 300 people have already commented on plans for an EV charging hub with the “additional provision” of petrol/diesel and ancillary retail, coffee shop facilities and valeting in Minehead.
NewsMoto submits second planning application for Basingstoke MSA
Moto has submitted a revised planning application for a motorway service area (MSA) at land adjacent to Junction 6 of the M3 near Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Focus On FeatureFOCUS ON INSURANCE: Cutting costs will cut your cover
We all know business costs are spiralling out of control but the one cost you should not scrimp on is insurance.
NewsAscona raises nearly £70k in six months for Wales Air Ambulance
Top 50 Indie Ascona Group has helped raise £67,814 in just over six months for the Wales Air Ambulance charity.
NewsUrban Fox to install EV lamp post charging in Newport
Urban Fox has secured a contract with Newport City Council to install one of the first lamp post EV charging networks in Wales.
NewsSewell on the go receives GroceryAid Gold Award
Top 50 Indie Sewell on the go has been awarded a prestigious GroceryAid Gold Award for the second year running.
NewsGround broken at Be.EV’s Manchester Charging Oasis
Work has begun on Be.EV’s £4m Manchester Charging Oasis in Failsworth.
Product NewsMaking sense of the Simpler Recycling regulations
The Simpler Recycling regulations, requiring forecourt operators and other businesses to provide bins for different types of waste, are now in force in England.
Equipment NewsRegular maintenance will keep your tech going for longer
Many forecourt retailers are investing in new technology such as solar power and energy-efficient refrigeration to help them cut costs. But to remain efficient this equipment needs to be maintained.
Focus On FeatureFOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY: Sunny savings ahead?
When the subject of solar panels is brought up in this country, some bright spark will always mention the fact that it’s not always that sunny here in the UK so why bother.
Focus On FeatureFOCUS ON: Six things you need to know about food to go
Food to go is big business, from the 1,000 Rollover hotdogs sold every week at the two Ron Perry A19 forecourts, to the Hockenhulls’ in-house chocolate bar milkshakes, and Fuzail Patel’s giant Yoh desserts. Here are six trends you need to know about this growing sector.
Focus On FeatureFOCUS ON FORECOURT MAINTENANCE: Time for a spring clean?
We all know the importance of first impressions, and a clean forecourt definitely provides a welcoming first impression for customers.
NewsRontec gets planning permission for bigger store and EV charging at Keynsham
Top 50 Indie Rontec has been granted planning permission to extend its shop at its A4 Bath Road, Keynsham site and also add EV charging.
NewsSUMMIT: Sustainability is here to stay, say forecourt operators
Forecourt retailers on the Planet panel of last week’s Summit were asked if they expected their sites to be more sustainable in 10 years’ time than they are today. The overwhelming answer was ’yes’.
NewsSUMMIT: Bright future for forecourts, says Greenergy’s Paul Clegg
The future of fuel on the forecourt is very much a mix of the traditional and the alternative, but it’s a future we can all look forward to thanks to the passion, creativity and determination of the sector’s independent operators.
NewsMost EV charging hitches resolved via phone call
The AA, in its EV Recharge Report for January 2025, has revealed that 95% of hitches that could put drivers off EV charging can be solved with a simple phone call.