The next big opportunity for the forecourt retailers or even for convenience stores with enough space could be providing charging points, as the UK aims to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and with most of the car manufacturers looking at launching electric vehicles to meet the demand.
“If forecourt retailers have space and facilities to host customers for the duration of a vehicle charge, providing EV charging points can be an important part of a modern offer for those,” James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) told Asian Trader.
“It won’t be the right answer for every store though, as the space may be better used for customers parking on site and doing their shopping,” he added. “EV footfall is likely to be different in practice to fuel footfall, because there will be fewer customers dwelling for far longer on site. Forecourt retailers will need to think about how to configure their sites to serve these customers effectively.”
One of the biggest challenges with providing EV charging points is space. However, EV drivers need to be able to park when they travel to shop. Combining parking with charging can introduce a level of convenience that makes a retail site significantly more attractive for customers. They will return not only for the products in-store, but also because of the convenience of combining their shopping trip with ticking another task off their list: charging their vehicle.
“Even for convenience stores not trading on petrol forecourt sites, there is still a potential opportunity when it comes to EV charging if there is the space available, but again it’s worth being aware that this could come at the expense of a higher turnover of customers using a normal parking space,” Lowman explains.
“Some of the non-forecourt stores that are currently most keenly investigating this are in urban areas where off-street parking is limited so home charging is more difficult.”
With the option of EV charging point, customers might spend longer time in store, leading to potential increase in basket spend. If customers bring their EV to the store to charge while they shop, they are much more likely to stay longer and browse while the charge is happening – and could spend more as a result.
According to ACS forecourt report 2021, there are around 305,000 PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) and 298,190 fully electric vehicles registered in the UK. There are around 536 charging points at 405 forecourt locations (excluding service stations), part of a wider network of over 16,000 charging locations.
ACS is currently calling on the government to ensure that the rollout of EV charging points is conducted strategically. For many petrol forecourts, EV charging will be central to their offer to customers, but for some it will not be the right approach in that community.
ACS’ recommendations to the government include:
Increase and extend the Rapid Charging Fund beyond major road network and support grid connections to increase EV infrastructure take-up
Industry-led implementation of EV charging infrastructure based on consumer demand, not arbitrary definitions of ‘large fuel retailers’
Exemptions from mandatory provision of EV charging in car parks where costs are prohibitive or sites are too small
While the pace of change on EV charging is an exciting prospect, it also provides challenges for retailers that are looking to invest in an EV charging facility, the ACS report notes, as there is the risk that their solution could be rendered obsolete within a short period of time. It’s essential therefore that the government supports forecourt retailers and other EV charging providers and helps them to invest in the long term future of the charging network.
Lowman told Asian Trader: “We continue to call on the government ahead of the next Spring Statement to ensure that there are financial incentives for retailers that want to install EV charging points on their sites. Drivers thinking about buying an EV will feel more confident if they see lots of charging points in convenient locations, so we play an important role in the government’s strategy and this is certainly acknowledged in our discussions with ministers on this topic.”
A wholesaler in Greater Manchester was slapped with huge fines after health inspectors found dead and alive rats scattered around the site, with food packaging having been gnawed through.
According to local reports, Gorton Superstore Wholesale Market in Greater Manchester has been slapped with a hefty fine after health inspectors found the place crawling with rats, with gnawed packaging and dead rodents scattered about.
The grim discovery at the Hyde Road shop in Gorton was made by health chiefs who described it as having an "active rat infestation" in "dirty" conditions complete with neglected traps. At Manchester Magistrates' Court, owner 40-year-old Christian Ogbonna admitted to six breaches of food and hygiene laws, in what's been dubbed a "disgraceful breach of food safety standards".
The shocking state of affairs was uncovered during an August 2023 inspection by the Council's Environmental Health Team, who reported finding a slew of serious food safety and hygiene violations.
"There was an active rodent infestation, with a number of dead and decomposing animals found throughout the premises, as well as in un-emptied traps," said the council, as per the Manchester Evening News. "Gnawed food packaging was also found, as well as the overall premises being dirty, with poor hygiene practices demonstrated throughout. There was no pest control contract in place, there was no food management documentation that would set out controls for cleaning and stock rotation."
Councillor Joanna Midgley, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, blasted the grim findings which led to a monstrous £12,000 fine and said. "This was a disgraceful breach of food safety standards and one that deserved to be met with the full force of the law. These conditions could have led to extreme harm and the size of the fine imposed demonstrates just how serious this case was.
"I hope that the owner takes responsibility for what they have done and commits to making immediate and drastic improvements to the way they run their business. I hope this sends a clear message on just how seriously the Council treats food safety and hygiene violations and how vital it is that standards are maintained across this industry."
In court, Gorton Superstore Wholesale Market was hit with a whopping £12,000 fine for its gross mishandling, with additional costs of £3,180 lumped onto them. The director, Ogbonna from Manchester has been slapped with a £1,066 fine, stung with a £426 victim surcharge and is coughing up another £3,180 in costs.
UK consumers have started their holiday shopping earlier this year, driven by a desire to spread out their spending and find the best value gifts. However, the cost-of-living crisis continues to have an impact on spending over the festive season, with many shoppers worried about how they will finance their holiday purchases, according to the latest EY Holiday Shopping Survey.
The EY survey, which polled 1000 UK consumers on their views and attitudes towards the upcoming holiday sales season, revealed that while 64 per cent of UK consumers enjoy sales events like Black Friday and Boxing Day, an equal percentage will only buy on sale to stay within budget.
Almost three-quarters ( 73%) are sceptical about the real value of festive season discounts with 55 per cent of consumers willing to pay full price for important gifts rather than wait for sales.
Festive promotions started earlier this year, with many retailers stocking Christmas goods alongside Halloween products. This prompted early Christmas shopping trips, with nearly half of consumers (46%) beginning their festive shopping before November. However, there is a growing focus on affordability, with more than half of consumers (53%) concerned about affording the holiday season.
To manage costs, 45 per cent plan to use credit, and 40 per cent intend to utilise ‘buy now, pay later’ options. Price is the most critical factor for 48 per cent of consumers when choosing which retailer to shop with, overshadowing other factors such as quality, availability, and promotions.
“Consumers are clearly adapting to the current economic climate by starting their holiday shopping earlier to pick off early bargains, and being more strategic with their spending. While the cost-of-living crisis remains a significant concern, it’s encouraging that shoppers are finding ways to manage their budgets and still prioritise meaningful gifts for their loved ones,” said Silvia Rindone, EY UK&I retail lead.
“Retailers have an important role to play in supporting consumers through this period by offering flexible payment options and must clearly communicate their value proposition to shoppers, attracting price-sensitive customers with great prices, and clear articulate of the value for the premium parts of their range. When it comes to sales, they need to carefully consider the timing and depth of promotions, and whether these are truly the best options for their customers.”
Bricks and clicks no longer enough
Stores remain key to festive shopping, with 70 per cent of consumers planning to make purchases in physical stores, which serve as the primary source of ideas and inspiration and allow customers to experience products before purchase.
However, the majority of UK consumers will also be shopping on online channels, with 70 per cent planning to shop with online-only retailers, 52 per cent with omnichannel retailers, 45 per cent with marketplaces, and 33 per cent with brands online.
Social shopping; the selling and buying of products directly on social media, is becoming increasingly important, with 20 per cent of consumers expecting to purchase from shoppable social content, rising to a third (33%) of Gen Z, who use social media for inspiration and rely on influencer and peer reviews. Shorter delivery propositions are also key, with 22 per cent preferring same-day delivery and 37 per cent next-day delivery, while only 30 per cent prefer to use the retailer's default delivery day.
Additionally, 53 per cent of consumers will find another item to buy to meet the minimum purchase amount for free shipping.
“To succeed, retailers must have a presence everywhere—standout stores or pop-ups, and a strong proposition across all digital channels, including social media, to drive both online conversions and in-store traffic. This broad approach adds complexity, as retailers must also tailor their messages to meet individual consumer needs on the channels that matter most to them,” Rindone added.
“The next few months are a critical time for many retailers. As their labour costs will increase next year, they need to make sure they drive margin in this Golden Quarter so that investments can be made in their proposition. Shoppers are willing to spend if the price is right, and the proposition is strong, so continuing to run as efficiently as possible while steadily improving the experience for customers is key. Much like the last few years, the market is getting tougher, and only those able to continually evolve will thrive.”
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A picture taken in Boegraven, on October 3, 2017 shows a view of the Refresco logo on the roof of the factory
Refresco, the global independent beverage solutions provider for retailers and brands, has on Monday announced the successful closing of its acquisition of Frías Nutrición, a leading manufacturer of plant-based drinks in Spain.
Refresco said this transaction, announced in July, would strengthens its position in the rapidly growing plant-based beverage category.
Frías, located in Burgos, Spain, employs approximately 250 people and specialises in producing private label plant-based drinks, including almond, rice, hazelnut, and soy options for key retailers in Spain and beyond. This acquisition complements Refresco’s existing operations in Spain and significantly expands its capabilities in the plant-based drinks sector.
“As part of our proven ‘Buy & Build’ strategy, we are looking to expand our capabilities in existing and adjacent beverage categories. The acquisition of Frías not only enhances our footprint in the plant-based drinks market, but it also allows us to better serve our European customers and accelerates our product innovation capabilities,” Hans Roelofs, Refresco chief executive, commented.
“We are excited to welcome the talented Frías team and are dedicated to a seamless integration process that will drive mutual growth.”
Nomad Foods, the parent company of Birds Eye, Aunt Bessie’s, and Goodfella’s, has reported a second consecutive quarter of volume growth, showcasing resilience despite disruptions caused by the rollout of new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.
For the third quarter ending 30 September, the frozen food giant posted a 0.8 per cent increase in total revenue with organic revenue rising 0.3 per cent. This growth was underpinned by a 0.7 per cent uplift in volume, continuing the momentum seen in the previous quarter. However, the ERP implementation challenges, which impacted service levels in some markets, were estimated to have reduced growth by approximately 2.5 per cent. The group also recorded a slight decline in price/mix by 0.4%.
Nomad’s return to volume growth in earlier quarters was driven by a strategic focus on advertising and promotions, which successfully attracted consumers following a period of significant price increases. Nomad attributed this improvement to supply chain productivity gains, a positive product mix, and reduced promotional investment as the company managed inventory during the ERP transition.
Stéfan Descheemaeker, Chief Executive of Nomad Foods, highlighted the strength of the European frozen food category and the company’s ability to regain volume and value share in the quarter.
“Our higher-margin Must Win Battles and Growth Platforms continue to drive growth,” Descheemaeker said. “Revenue growth management and productivity programs, combined with favorable pricing dynamics, fueled margin expansion, allowing us to reinvest in the business.”
Co-Chairman and Founder Noam Gottesman added, “The improved underlying trends validate the new commercial flywheel and innovation framework we adopted last year. Despite curtailed support levels due to ERP implementation, we’re seeing strong progress, and the innovation and marketing plans ahead are exciting. These strengthened fundamentals give me confidence in the sustained momentum of the business.”
While the ERP-related disruptions posed temporary hurdles, Nomad Foods’ continued investment in marketing, innovation, and operational efficiency positions it well for long-term growth. With volume growth restored and gross margins at record highs, the company is looking ahead to capitalize on its improved market position and the resilience of the frozen food category.
Thousands of UK farmers are expected to converge on London on Tuesday (19) for an independent rally urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reverse controversial tax changes announced in the Autumn Budget.
The event, starting at 11 a.m. at Richmond Terrace, opposite Downing Street, will focus on the government’s decision to introduce a 20 per cent tax on inherited farming assets above £1 million, a move many fear could cripple family farms.
The rally coincides with a mass lobbying effort by 1,800 National Farmers’ Union (NFU) members at Church House, Westminster. Though the NFU is not organising the independent event, it has expressed support for members who wish to attend.
The rally is being led by a group of farmers, including Olly Harrison, Clive Bailye, Martin Williams, Andrew Ward, and James Mills, who have called on their peers to register online in advance. Organisers say pre-registration will help the Metropolitan Police manage attendance and allow for smooth communication of event maps and itineraries.
High-profile speakers from agriculture, politics, and media are slated to appear, with Jeremy Clarkson of Clarkson’s Farm fame among those lending their support. The rally will culminate in a procession to Parliament Square and back, led symbolically by children on pedal tractors to underscore concerns about the future of farming. NFU president Tom Bradshaw will deliver the closing address.
The Autumn Budget has drawn sharp criticism from farmers, particularly over changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), which are set to take effect in 2026. The farming budget will remain at £2.4 billion for 2025/26, despite widespread calls for an increase to address rising costs and sustainability challenges.
Organisers warn that the proposed tax changes could have a "devastating" impact on UK farms, particularly small family-run operations. Farmers are also encouraged to bring British food items for donation to food banks as a reminder of their critical role in feeding the nation.
Farmers are being urged to leave their tractors at home due to limited space but are encouraged to attend in force to make their voices heard. This rally, which combines grassroots activism with a symbolic procession, aims to shine a spotlight on the struggles facing the farming community and demand meaningful policy changes to secure the future of British agriculture.