Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Indie forecourts ramp up investment in business despite challenges

Indie forecourts ramp up investment in business despite challenges
Old style garage forecourt in Sompting, near Brighton (iStock)
Getty Images

Independent forecourt retailers are making significant investments in their businesses, spending around £18,000 on average last year compared to around £10,000 spent by convenience stores that don’t sell fuel, a new report has found.

The 2022 Forecourt Report, published today by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) shows that refrigeration is the most common form of investment across the sector, with stores either looking to expand their range of fresh and chilled goods or upgrade their refrigeration to make it more energy efficient.


Half of the forecourt stores in the sector have doors on their chillers, with over a third (39 per cent) using LED lighting and 8 per cent using solar panels to reduce electricity costs.

“It’s essential that the government recognises the crucial role that forecourts play in their communities. These businesses are community hubs in their own right, providing essential services and an ever-increasing range of products for customers along with fuel and alternative power solutions,” James Lowman, ACS chief executive, said.

“The energy support package that has been provided to forecourts has been a lifeline for many, and we encourage the government to include forecourts within the list of vulnerable sectors that need longer term support.”

There are 8,379 fuel forecourt sites in the UK, out of which 7,407 have shops, and the total value of forecourt sales in the past year has been £4.8 billion.

Other key findings from this year’s Forecourt Report include:

  • The UK forecourt sector creates over 84,000 jobs, with around one in four colleagues (23 per cent) being in the business for more than 10 years
  • 69 per cent of forecourt retailers are active in their communities, raising money for local charities, getting involved with local projects, and donating to food banks
  • One in five customers of forecourt stores visit every day (21 per cent), with four in five (80 per cent) visiting at least once a week
  • There are currently 768 electric charging devices located on 446 forecourt sites across the UK
  • Average fuel prices peaked in July this year, at 188.6p for petrol and 197.3p for diesel

Lowman continued: “This has been a turbulent year for fuel supply and pricing, with international events determining the price that consumers pay at the pump. It is encouraging to see that fuel prices are trending downward after peaking in the summer, especially as everyone is looking to cut costs where possible.”

More for you

Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

Local shops will face significant new pressures as a result of today’s Budget, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has warned.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget's impact will be felt unevenly across the UK’s 50,000 convenience stores, with some measures such as business rate relief and the increased employment allowance mitigating costs for smaller independent stores, while providing no help for chains and larger independent businesses.

Keep ReadingShow less
Post Office cash deposits and withdrawals
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services

Parliament to launch inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal compensation delays

Parliament is to launch an inquiry into delays in compensation settlements for sub postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal.

The newly-formed Business and Trade Select Committee will call ministers, subpostmasters and their lawyers to give evidence next week with a second session to follow in mid-November. The Committee’s chair, Liam Byrne MP told ITV News that there was “definitely a delay” in people coming forward for payment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Robbie MacDonald via LDRS

Shop’s licence bid rejected over illegal vapes and ‘no regard’ for children’s safety

A Rossendale shop has had a licence bid rejected after repeatedly selling vapes to children and having illegal products on its premises.

Management at the Ibra Superstore at 34 Burnley Road, Bacup, have shown ‘no regard’ for children’s protection and safety, and have insufficient controls for licensing, Rossendale councillors have ruled.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less