Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

BP appoints former M&S exec to push convenience ambitions

Forecourt fuel crime in UK
iStock image
Getty Images

BP has announced the appointment of former M&S executive David Phillpot as its convenience Trading Director, Europe.

He joins the forecourt operator from M&S and brings over 25 years of experience in food retail roles. In his most recent role as franchise director, Phillpot led relationships and commercial plans with all of the M&S franchise partners, including BP. Previously, he held the position of Trading Director of convenience food at M&S, overseeing key categories including ready meals, food on the move and desserts.


In his newly created role, Phillpot will report to Jo Hayward, BP’s VP for convenience in Europe who is also responsible for global proposition development. He will play a key role in driving performance and convenience retail growth across BP’s European network of over 3,000 company-owned stores, as well as maximising its grocery partnerships with retailers like Albert Heijn in the Netherlands, Auchan in Poland, REWE in Germany and M&S in the UK.

Hayward commented, “We are delighted to welcome David to BP as we continue to deliver our exciting growth ambitions for our convenience retail business. With a proven track record of delivering outstanding results at M&S, David brings valuable expertise to our team. I cannot wait for him to get started.”

Phillpot added, “With ambitious growth plans in convenience retailing and EV charging across Europe, joining the business at such a transformative phase promises an exciting opportunity to drive growth and performance in the rapidly evolving mobility and convenience sector. I am excited to begin this next chapter of my career, meeting teams, partners, and customers across Europe.”

Convenience is one of BP’s five transition growth engines, along with EV charging, hydrogen, bioenergy, and renewables and power. By 2030, the group aims to double its convenience gross margin, targeting 10 per cent year-on-year growth, and increase its number of convenience sites globally to more than 3,500.

Phillpot is the latest in a number of recent hires from the retail sector by BP. These include Claire Farrant as VP marketing from Lidl, Joanne Hall as UK retail operations director from Sainsbury’s and Doris Beger as senior trading manager, Germany with experience at Fresh Solutions, REWE and Walmart.

More for you

Sugro UK partners with Britvic to launch industry-first sample box

Sugro UK partners with Britvic to launch industry-first sample box

Leading wholesale buying and marketing group Sugro UK has collaborated with Britvic Soft Drinks, a global organisation with 39 much-loved brands sold in over 100 countries, to launch a groundbreaking Fast Food Sample Box.

The sample box is specifically designed for ICS UK LTD customers, giving them a unique opportunity to sample and experience new Fast Food soft drinks offerings firsthand.

Keep ReadingShow less
Plant-based ready meal

Plant-based ready meal brand on brink of collapse

British plant-based ready meal maker Allplants has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, citing ongoing financial losses, stated recent reports.

Allplants, known as the UK’s largest vegan ready meal brand, has faced mounting losses over recent years. Filing the notice provides the company with a critical window to explore options to avoid liquidation, such as restructuring, refinancing, or negotiating a sale.

Keep ReadingShow less
sottish retail-wholesale

Scottish retail-wholesale figure celebrated at University of Stirling graduation

Entrepreneur and businessperson Stanley Morrice, an influential figure in the retail and wholesale sectors, received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stirling at Stirling’s winter graduation held today (22).

Stanley, from Fraserburgh, is being recognised for his services to Scottish food, drink and agriculture. He entered the sector as a school leaver. In 1993, he joined Aberdeen-based convenience stores Aberness Foods, which traded as Mace. He rose to become Sales Director, boosting income by 50 per cent and tripling profits, and went on to be Managing Director, successfully leading the business through a strategic sale to supermarket group Somerfield.

Keep ReadingShow less
consumer cheer
iStock image
iStock image

Consumers cheer up as Budget nerves lift: GfK

British consumers have turned less pessimistic following the government's first budget and the US presidential election and they are showing more appetite for spending in the run-up to Christmas, according to a new survey.

The GfK Consumer Confidence Index, the longest-running measure of British consumer sentiment, rose to -18 in November, its highest since August and up from -21 in October which was its lowest since March.

Keep ReadingShow less
Retail Sales
Photo: iStock

Retail sales take bigger-than-expected hit in October

British retail sales fell by much more than expected in October, according to official data that added to other signs of a loss of momentum in the economy in the run-up to the first budget of prime minister Keir Starmer's new government.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales volumes have fallen by 0.7 per cent in October. A Reuters poll of economists had forecast a monthly fall of 0.3 per cent in sales volumes from September.

Keep ReadingShow less