Market Review2020

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002_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 14:20 Market Review2020 HELP US TO HELP YOU, THE INDEPENDENT CONTENTS FORECOURT RETAILER, BY SUPPORTING REVIEW OF Ž‘’“ ” YOUR TRADE ASSOCIATION NOW POLITICAL “Together we WORKING FOR YOU ’‘ MEMBERS are stronger” THE PRA ON THE ROAD AGAIN ’– ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Ž‘ TECHNICAL RAY BLAKE ASKS: TO EV OR NOT TO EV? Ž” CAR WASH CAR WASH ASSOCIATION Ž– BRIAN MADDERSON CAR WASH EUROPE ˜‘ CHAIRMAN OIL MARKET OVERVIEW arket Review 2020 is the sixth issue of MARKET BY NUMBERS FROM EXPERIAN CATALIST ˜” PRA’s annual publication with more pages ENERGY TRANSITION Mdedicated to the Car Wash Association’s (CWA) aairs and even greater emphasis on our ALLEGO TALKS ELECTROMOBILITY ˜– role representing members’ interests with the ACCENTURE ON HOW THE FORECOURT IS GETTING PERSONAL ”Ž UK and Scottish Governments and the devolved TOTAL RETURNS TO THE UK WITH HARVEST ENERGY ”™ assemblies. BUSINESS I am delighted that the publication continues BUSINESS RATES UPDATE FROM MUA š‘ to generate so much interest and acts as a starting CHRISTIE & CO’S PROPERTY VIEW šŽ point for developing discussion at our popular “Business Breakouts” and Roadshows. Details of LEGAL UPDATE FROM MILS š” these important regional events, when we bring RETAIL PRA/CWA and key suppliers to meet members, are FORECOURT TRADER OF THE YEAR ™‘ to be found on our website www.ukpra.co.uk Throughout next year, we will be focusing on alternative fuels – with electricity supply, charging Who’s who at the PRA points, forecourt safety issues and hybrid/pure PRA MANAGEMENT TEAM Aziz Patel, The BrookŒeld Group electric vehicles all commanding close attention. Brian Madderson, Chairman Hemant Tandon, Park Garage Group There will be ample time to meet suppliers and 07768 608332 [email protected] Mark Wilson, Fraser’s Retail other retailers to discuss your views and concerns at Gordon Balmer, Commercial Manager our events. 07771 834073 [email protected] PRA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Gordon Balmer, PRA Roadside retailing is deŒnitely not an industry Phil Monger, Technical Director 07831 327990 [email protected] Matthew Bellamy, Certas Energy sector on its knees, but one that is displaying Ray Blake, Technical Manager Ray Blake, PRA renewed optimism and strength for the future as 07496 967269 [email protected] Nicholas Brocklehurst, Westbridge Motors you will see by reading the pages that follow, with Steve Coombe, Membership Manager (Northampton) Ltd thanks to all the contributors for their extremely 07831 373205 [email protected] J Brownsey, Fordingbridge Garage Rodney Carter, Vapour Control Systems valuable insights and to all advertisers for Alexander Russell, Director of Strategy 07881 502581 [email protected]π Michael Garner, The Garner Group supporting this publication so generously. Gill Howkins, F Howkins and Son PRA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Graham Lambert, St Michaels Garage Ltd Brian Madderson, Chairman Andrew Lawrence, Lawrence Garages Mike Garner, The Garner Group Ben Lawrence, Lawrence Garages Ashley Kay, The Kay Group Emma McVie, Southern Co-operative Sue Kembrey, Stanishawe Services Phil Monger, PRA Graham Lambert, St Michaels Garage Ltd Barry Onions, Petroassist Andrew Lawrence, Lawrence Garages (London) David Sommers, Hampshire Trading Standards Cover image: Shutterstock Paul Suchodolski, Rontec

The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) is a leading automotive trade body in the Publisher: Simon Lewis UK, representing franchised car PRA MARKET REVIEW is published by Editor: Tracy West and commercial vehicle dealers; Lewis Business Media Ltd, Art Editor: Sarah Crowhurst independent garages; bodyshops; motorcycle dealers; petrol Suite A, Arun House, Office Village, Sales: Rachel Hallett retailers; auction houses and cherished number plate dealers; River Way, Uckfield, TN22 1SL Printed by: Stephens & George Print Group, who provide sales and services to motorists and businesses Tel: 01825 983105 Goat Mill Road, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 3TD across the UK. Fax: 01825 983108 ©Lewis Business Media Ltd 2020 201 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5AB Email: [email protected] All rights reserved. Tel: 020 7307 3598 • Fax: 020 7307 3406 • www.ukpra.co.uk

www.ukpra.co.uk 03 REVIEW OF 2019 Market Review 2020

 : LULL BEFORE THE after the Volkswagen ‘dieselgate’ scandal. While there is no imminent UK ELECTRIC STORM? ban planned for diesel cars, under the Government’s 2017 UK Air Quality plan, PRA and CWA chairman Brian Madderson reviews the key the sale of both new diesel and petrol developments aecting our industry in 2019 and beyond cars will be stopped by 2040 Consumers and ˆeet operators have been moving quickly to change he result of the General Election businesses, plus investment in exciting from diesel, with new registrations in December returned Prime new developments. falling by 22% year-on-year, and whilst TMinister Boris Johnson with petrol car sales have increased slightly, a clear majority for the new-look FUEL alternatively fuelled vehicles had record Conservatives to deliver Brexit as With so much emphasis by scientists sales in November 2019. soon as possible. For business and and environmentalists across the The publication of Road to Zero by the consumer, the prospect of greater globe on the adverse impact of climate the Department for Transport proposes economic certainty and growth in 2020 change on weather systems producing that by 2040 no internal combustion is very welcome after three long years exceptional rainfall and ˆoods, heat engines (ICE) will be permitted in of delay and procrastination – we wish and droughts, ice melt and oceans new cars and there are now pressures everyone a successful New Year. rising and accusatory Šngers pointing to bring this date forward to 2035 or As we look back on 2019, the at the oil industry, it really does feel like even 2030. Local authorities are being roadside retailing sector has the lull before the (electric?) storm. Not encouraged to introduce their own outperformed almost all other retail only that but air quality has become policies and Bristol is set to become sectors such as high street shops, a major issue at a local level with hotels, restaurants, care homes lawyers taking governments to task and pubs. Property asset values and winning High Court judgements “Consumers and Šeet have increased, cashˆow has been that impose timescales and stringent strong and very steady on the back targets. operators have been of improving fuel and shop margins. Diesel cars, especially older ones, are moving quickly to Recent meetings with banks have said to produce more nitrogen oxides conŠrmed their continuing appetite to (NOx) than petrol cars. They have change from diesel” lend to our sector, which in turn has come under scrutiny over concerns ensured good demand for existing about their emissions, especially

EG’s Barton the Šrst city in the UK to ban diesel Upon Humber site vehicles in its city centre. There will also be a wider Clean Air Zone (CAZ) which commercial diesel vehicles, such as buses, vans and lorries, will be charged to enter, unless they meet emissions standards. These proposals need Government approval before coming into force in 2021 Drivers of more polluting cars including most diesels, have to pay a daily fee to drive in central London under the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which came into force in April 2019 to help tackle dangerously high levels of air pollution in the capital. This was 17 months earlier than originally proposed. In October 2021, the zone will be expanded from the North Circular Road at the top and down to the South Circular. Other cities across the UK are also taking action to improve air quality and reduce pollution. These include: Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow: The Scottish Government has promised low emission zones for each ▹

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and are committed to further rapid expansion. Not only are the ‘big four’ supermarkets being hit by this external competition, they are being adversely ašected by cannibalism: losing high margin main store sales to their fast-growing own brand convenience stores: eg. Tesco Express and Metro, Morrisons Daily and Sainsbury’s Local and also increasingly to online shopping where the eye-watering labour costs of picking, packing and delivery virtually eliminate previous margin levels. This has forced the ‘big four’ to take more margin from fuel so closing the price gap on other players ▹ of these cities between 2018 and 2020. in the retail fuel market to the latter’s Bath: the city is proposing to “It’s a sign of con dence advantage. charge higher emission vehicles to After the lull in net closures in 2018, drive in the city centre by the end of that dealers are eager to in 2019 there was another lull as site 2020, at a cost of £9 per day. invest in NTI sites” numbers continued to remain stable Birmingham: One of
ve cities with only nine net losses to date: 63 required by the government to closures, generally smaller dealer sites, introduce a Clean Air Zone by 2020, it ošset by 35 new-to-industry (NTI) and has already outlined plans for cars and 19 return-to-industry (RTI). taxis to pay £8 per day. It is a sign of market con
dence Derby: Has been told to set up that dealers and others are eager a Clean Air Zone, but it has not yet to invest £2m-£5m (non-motorway provided detailed plans. service areas) in NTI sites with good Leeds: A Clean Air Zone covering convenience shop brands and food- more than half of the city will be to-go as demonstrated by openings introduced from January 6, 2020. from Euro Garages. And the family Charges will only apply for the worst owned Kay Group. As well as many polluting HGVs, buses, coaches, taxis Knock Downs and Re-Builds (KDRB) and private hire vehicles. undertaken. Nottingham: Has reportedly Over and above the standard petrol/ ditched plans to introduce a Clean Air mileage from light and heavy goods Top: EG Burnley diesel/auto lpg forecourts, there are Zone after modelling showed it could vehicles, indicating a dip in economic Barracks Services also ‘Non-Retail’ sites – sites which Above: The Kay reduce air pollution to below the legal activity. Group’s Ruabon site ošer fuelling but do not usually retail limit within two years. to the general public. This ‘Non- Oxford: Is proposing to introduce FORECOURTS Retail’ category is primarily Truck Stop the world’s
rst Zero Emission Zone. The trend decline in forecourt numbers locations (like the ones Certas has been Both diesel and petrol vehicles would was around 300 to 400 each year opening around the UK) but it also ▹ be banned from the city centre in through the 1980s and 1990s as the big A lull in closures = a net loss of 9 sites phases, starting in 2020. four supermarkets vied with each other New-to-industry sites: +34 Sheeld: Has proposed charges for new out-of-town store openings. for the most polluting vehicles using These would have a
lling station on Company: +4 (BP 1; Texaco 1; 2 Gulf Automat 2) the inner ring road. Buses, coaches and the periphery and with average volumes Hypermarket: +10 (Automats 8; Asda 2; Costco 3; Tesco HGVs would pay £50 a day, taxis and soon reaching 10ml/y any small dealer 3; Morrisons 1 relocated; Sainsbury’s 1) minicabs £12.50, and vans and LGVs pumping less than 2ml/y within a few Dealer: +20 (EG 7; Kay 2; MFG 3; NI 4) £10. miles was priced out of the market. Return-to-industry sites: +20 Southampton: Set to submit Hence numbers plummeted from Company: +8 (Gulf Automat 3; BP 1; Harvest 1; plans to the Government at the end of 14,000 in 1990 to the present 8,385 Applegreen 1) January. The emergence of German discount Hypermarket: +1 (Co-op 1) Unsurprisingly, demand for road chains, Aldi and Lidl, abruptly stopped fuels, excluding biofuels, fell by (3%) the UK multi-nationals’ space race Dealer: +11 (EG 1;Falcon 1; James Hall 1) in Q2/19 which was the largest overall as they began to lose both volume Closures: +63 reduction since Q1/13. Diesel dropped and margin to the newcomers. These Dealer: 63 by 4%, a reduction not seen since 2009 super-e¤cient and competitive Source: Experian Catalist and was partly caused by the lower discounters now have over 1,400 stores

www.ukpra.co.uk 07 REVIEW OF 2019 Market Review 2020

▹ covers hydrogen and CNG/LNG. So for acquiring sites. and now has 37 sites the ‘alternative fuels’ locations we have The loss of these sites was o set MPK Garages has been boosted some noted on standard retail sites by purchases of high quality dealer by acquisition from Australian private – like hydrogen at M25 Shell Cobham groups: Simon Smith and Symonds equity fund Stratford Capital, with Services but others on Non-Retail Forecourts plus some NTI openings to Nerissa Haskic supporting long-term locations like CNG/LNG at M6 Poplar keep numbers above 900. CEO Paul Kershaw. Already over 30 2000. Early last year, Sainsbury’s was sites with many moving to Morrisons advised by its legal team that a bid Daily-branded convenience stores. (merger) with isolated Asda – Walmart Platinum Retail, led by the Retail Non- apparently keen to exit Europe – would indefatigable Sej Sejpal, continues to UK V3 2019 All UK Sites Retail be approved by the CMA Clearly, expertly pick up singletons and small Petrol/Diesel 8,568 8,385 183 they had not reckoned with new and groups with over 32 sites now in his ambitious chairman, ex-MP Andrew portfolio. Hydrogen 18 3 15 Tyrie. Harvest Energy has recently acquired CNG/LNG 24 7 17 After expenditure of millions of by licence the TOTAL brand for the pounds on advice from City lawyers UK market with the žrst site launched Auto LPG 786 781 5 and bankers, Sainsbury’s bid was in Thirsk. A recent poll by Forecourt comprehensively rejected. Thus, Trader magazine conžrmed that 67% of Red Diesel 496 478 18 the spectre of not one but two readers were pleased to see the return Source: Experian Catalist supermarkets pricing fuel at or below of this once important retail brand for cost did not materialise. the UK market. How many sites will OWNERSHIP Other dealer groups to forge ahead convert and over what timespan? The market anticipated that MRH in 2019 included: Retail, the largest dealer group at the Harvest Energy (retail trading arm LOYALTY SCHEMES end of 2018, would complete an IPO of Prax Petroleum) acquired 63-site There was certainly no lull in this on the London stock exchange during HKS, which, together with existing keenly fought customer incentive. BP’s Q1. US private equity fund, Lone Star, operations including branded fuel long-term arrangement with Nectar tested prospects and presumably was supply, gave them over 160 sites was discontinued and the company not encouraged – look how Aston Applegreen continues to expand introduced its own loyalty scheme, Martin had a stellar launch only for the in Northern Ireland and mainland UK BPme. shares to “bomb” through the year. with over 130 sites and unexpectedly Nectar signed up with Esso and Instead MRH was sold to rival dealer acquired Welcome Break with 38 dealers were relieved that costs were group, MFG, owned by another US forecourt/shopping MSA complexes charged on issuance not on fuel private equity fund, Clayton Dubillier Penny Petroleum led by colourful deliveries. To date, issuance rates and Rice. This made the latter a tour de ex-BP Retail expert Dave Penny, with acceptability have been good. force in the market, leading to an close to 60 sites Meantime, Shell completely Inquiry by the Competition & Markets Ascona led by industry veteran, overhauled its internal scheme and Authority (CMA). Darren Briggs, completed the purchase relaunched as Shell Go+ with easy- The acquisition was approved of the 17-site Cornwall Garage group to-use-and-redeem features which subject to MFG disposing of some Below: Welcome appears welcomed by both retailers and 38 sites where competition might be Break Hopwood motorists alike. Park, on the reduced. M42, now part of Most of these sites were sold to an Applegreen after last THE FUTURE year’s unexpected emergent Graham Peacock (ex-MRH acquisition My view is that government and shareholder and CEO) through trading industry need to provide much greater operation SGN, which was already žnancial and operational leadership if clean air and climate change improvements are to meet their ambitious time horizons – not least by being TECHNOLOGY NEUTRAL. So less one-eyed focus on “electricifation” and more two-eyed on all other fuel developments including GtL, CNG, LNG, hydrogen and even synthetic fuels. Being a pragmatist, I can see fossil fuel-powered vehicles on our roads for many years to come, which is why the conventional forecourt is not a 21st century dinosaur!!

08 www.ukpra.co.uk 009_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 14:24 POLITICAL Market Review 2020

WORKING FOR YOU PRA has established strong working relationships in Parliament and across Government to make sure that its members’ interests are represented when policy is made

REXIT such as security of supply, contingency diesel vehicles from the roads by 2040. 2020 promises to be the year of planning and immigration. The PRA has The PRA has begun talks with o
cials BBrexit with a deal. We support periodically published updates on Brexit in the Treasury as to how they might the transitional arrangements which in Petrol Heads-Up. replace the £28 billion that is currently have been made so that our members raised in fuel duty, plus the £7bn in VAT can continue to import fuel and food REDUCING FUEL DUTY RELIANCE that would be lost in the changeover to supplies from the EU without border For the past nine years, fuel duty has electric vehicles. We have warned the checks. Longer term, we look forward been frozen at 57.95p per litre for both Treasury that if they were to attempt to to the UK striking free trade deals with petrol and diesel. Keeping it frozen increase the tax take from fuel duty in the EU and third countries, which could at this level should help maintain the the coming decade, it would become all apply from 2021. stability of the UK economy at a time of the harder to replace the lost revenue in The PRA is participating in the Oil political change. We will be urging the the decade when alternative fuel vehicles and Gas EU Exit Sector panel. This Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure (AFV) displace petrol and diesel. is facilitated by BEIS (Department that UK duties and pump prices are for Business, Energy and Industrial competitive with those of EU countries. ROAD PRICING Strategy) and o“ers an opportunity to The UK Government has set itself Following representations from the PRA, voice members’ concerns about issues on a path to removing all petrol and the Department for Transport (DfT) ▹

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011_PRA_2020.indd 1 13/12/2019 08:59 POLITICAL Market Review 2020

Oil Industries Forum (DOIF) and among will be issued early in 2020. Following other subjects discussed has been the receipt of replies to the document, we issue of IMO 2020. IMO 2020 is the understand that E10 will be introduced International Maritime Organization’s some time in 2021 and the PRA’s stance directive to world shipping operators remains that the introduction needs to run their ships on low sulphur fuel to be “mandated” by Government oil. Currently ships run on 3.5% heavy as opposed to a commercially led fuel oil and from January 1, 2020 ships introduction. Mandating not only have been required to install scrubbing ensures there is universal and systems into their exhaust systems simultaneous adoption but also means or run on 0.5% sulphur fuel oil. This that ‹lling stations can use the same change will add to the cost of shipping. infrastructure that is currently being However, it may also impact the cost of used for premium grade E5 petrol. petrol and diesel. During the last year we have kept members informed as to how BUSINESS RATES/ATMS this is developing. Watch out for further In February 2019, the PRA submitted Above: PRA is ▹ has indicated that it will be launching a working alongside updates in Petrol Heads-Up. We have evidence to the Treasury Select consultation on road pricing in 2020. the ATM International published documents on this in the Committee on the impact of business Association to lobby We will be examining the issues carefully on ATM business Members’ Section of the website. rates on the independent forecourt and consulting members on their views. rates We have also been engaging with the sector. In the March 2019 Budget, the The attraction of road pricing from the Below: PRA has DfT on the introduction of E10 petrol. Government announced a retail relief Treasury’s point of view is that it would called for the During the year our technical director, scheme on business rates for 2019/20 introduction of E10 enable government revenues from the to be mandated by Phil Monger, led a party of members and 2020/21 in England and Wales. PRA road transport sector to be maintained. government who visited the DfT to discuss this was quick to obtain clari‹cation from Fuel duties paid at the pump could be issue. We now expect that a consultation Treasury o˜cials that the scheme would replaced with revenue from use of the document on the introduction of E10 apply to PFS with a rateable value of roads. less than £50k. These would be eligible Government bodies oversee a for a one-third discount against actual range of dierent incentive schemes “Mandating E10 means payments (subject to EU de minimis in place for alternative fuels. PRA rules). will be encouraging the Government means that lling Following further lobbying by PRA, to recognise the willingness of the stations can use the the Government has recently announced operators of existing station (PFS) that the retail relief scheme for 2020/21 premises and infrastructure to embrace same infrastructure” would have an increased RV threshold alternative fuels, and to ensure of £51K and an increased discount of appropriate incentives are put in place 50%. This will bring additional ‹nancial to adapt them for the vehicle €eets of bene‹t to many of our members. the future. The 2021 Revaluation will continue to be based on market rental values at April FUEL DEVELOPMENTS 1, 2019. All but the largest new shop The Renewable Transport Fuel developments will see a small increase Obligation (RTFO) is the Government’s in rates, following a formula now agreed €agship policy to reduce greenhouse with the VOA. gas emissions. This is facilitated by the PRA is also working with the ATM blending of biofuels into petrol and International Association (ATMIA) diesel to reduce harmful emissions. Fuel to make appropriate representations suppliers who qualify to join the scheme following the loss of a court case by receive tickets to enable them to comply the VOA, which was attempting to with the RTFO. levy separate business rates on third During 2019, the PRA has engaged party through-the-wall cash machines with the Low Carbon Fuels Regulation (TTWATM) and standalone booths department within the DfT. The aim of installed at PFS. these meetings was to seek clari‹cation The case is due to be heard by the around the scheme, its success and Supreme Court in March 2020 with future developments. Full details of the a judgement in the summer. Should scheme are contained in the Members’ the VOA lose again, there will be rates Section of the PRA’s website under refunds backdated to April 2010 for “Representing your interests: Fuels some ‹lling station owners, depending policy”. on the agreement they have in place with The PRA also sits on the Downstream ATM suppliers. ▹ 12 www.ukpra.co.uk Saving you money & time on your energy supplies...

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▹ FORECOURT CRIME the future, and the PRA will be tracking PRA representatives have met in recent “PRA will be talking to its take-up in other EU countries such months with two Home O•ce ministers as Germany, as well as voicing the retail to discuss the weak response of some the Government about fuel industry’s willingness to embrace police forces in England and Wales to this technology in the UK. no-means-of-payment fuel losses as how to incentivise and Looking ahead, the Government well as criminal drive-o–s. They have is going to come under increasing put their weight behind PRA’s call for reward PFS which pressure to take a more neutral stance all crimes to be properly investigated, between zero carbon technologies. and a new Crime Strategy Unit has been provide alternative fuel Its heavy-handed discouragement of formed in the Home O•ce to tackle the modern diesel cars – despite their issue. infrastructure” reduced carbon emissions compared to A meeting between Brian Madderson unleaded – has been environmentally and the national police lead for retail Pictured above: While We will also be raising the safety damaging. crime, chief constable Simon Cole, PHEV and BEV cars concerns that come into play with the The Government has neither the make up 5% of the resulted in the acknowledgement that UK car parc, some installation of electric charging capacity technical expertise nor the market the solution to fuel theft does not lie 1.8 million internal of 50kws and above. knowledge to sit in judgement, and it is combustion engine with pre-pay but with prosecuting cars were sold in The PRA has been critical of the not best placed to pick winners in the thieves to deter others. PRA is also 2019 Government’s stance in the Road to race to provide zero carbon methods of working more closely with the National Zero document, in so much that there road transport. PRA opposes knee-jerk Business Crime Centre and the DVLA to should be an agnostic approach to responses such as the outright banning tackle this issue. alternative fuels. However, there appears of clean diesel vehicles in Bristol city to be an over-reliance on electric vehicles centre. ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES to meet emissions targets. This has all the hallmarks of Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and battery-only Unlike electric vehicle charging, political posturing, while making little vehicles (BEV) now make up 5% of the hydrogen-powered drivers can refuel environmental sense and undermining UK car parc. However, there were 1.8m their vehicles in three to ­ve minutes; the central Bristol business of several of more new internal combustion engine and the technology can be swapped into our members. (ICE) vehicles and less than 0.2m existing PFS more easily than electric alternative fuel cars sold in 2019. Siting charging infrastructure. Germany ENERGY RESILIENCE charging points is going to be a huge already has 76 public hydrogen stations, The PRA sits on the Downstream challenge for PFS, and the PRA will be which are usually integrated into existing Oil Industries Forum where we have talking to the Government about how service stations, and the UK is falling discussed the National Emergency Plan to incentivise and reward PFS which behind. Hydrogen may ultimately prove for Fuel. provide alternative fuel infrastructure. to be a more reliable zero carbon fuel of This plan would be enacted by the ▹

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▹ Government during a time of national members if their sites are designated Designated sites should receive an emergency. sites which will need to be kept wet if the annual visit by their Local Resilience The PRA has advised on the plan is enacted. The PRA also has input Forum (LFR), which is responsible Designated Filling Station (DFS) into the process on who is able to access for informing site managers of their network and communicated to fuel and how the fuel will be dispensed. obligations as DFS.

CAR WASH ASSOCIATION

The days of confirmation that these letters have the rogue hand been sent. car wash are numbered We continue to engage with both national and local offices as we feel that more proactive enforcement of existing permit requirements for disposal of trade (toxic) effluent will help close down the worst offending HCWs.

HM REVENUE & CUSTOMS INVESTIGATIONS Over the past two years CWA has been in frequent meetings and correspondence with officials in HMRC – both in London and regional offices – to try to persuade them to take on the gangmasters who are running rogue hand car wash operations across the country. fter an 18-month hiatus, David Metcalf, director of labour Despite the activities described in Dame Sara Thornton DBE, market enforcement (OLME) in three Sections 7 & 8 of the EAC Report, the Aformer National Police Midlands postcodes have now been number or modus operandi of the Chief Council’s lead, has been undertaken. gangmaster-style HCW operations appointed Independent Anti-Slavery has yet to see substantive reduction. Commissioner (IASC). The Car ENVIRONMENT AUDIT However, under pressure to Wash Association, a wholly owned COMMITTEE (EAC) conduct more investigations, subsidiary of the PRA, has been After a formal Inquiry initiated by HMRC has started to direct more working with the IASC on their Mary Creagh MP, which involved investigations towards established Strategy Plan 2019/20 and with other public hearings in June 2018 at which (Registered company) automated stakeholders and organisations PRA provided expert testimony, car washes which should be fully combating modern slavery, including the findings were published in compliant and far fewer towards the Police Crime Prevention Initiative November 2018 as Hand Car the gangmaster HCWs which often (PCPI) and The Clewer Initiative. Washes: Tenth Report of Sessions harbour criminal activities. The PRA has brought together 2017-19. The report was rightly critical This results from officials being Accenture with The Clewer Initiative of many Government agencies unable to engage with criminal to undertake a major relaunch of and departments listing a series of elements because they do not have the Safe Car Wash App in 2020. constructive recommendations. sufficient police back-up for their One of the objectives is to provide The formal Government investigations and operations. the app user with details of nearby response was issued in February We are continuing to engage with Responsible Car Wash Scheme 2019 and virtually ignored all HMRC officials and we are confident (RCWS)-compliant car washes so recommendations with the exception that more illicit operations will be giving an alternative to the rogue of updating the Pollution Prevention targeted and caught in the year hand car wash (HCW). Guidance but without the level of ahead. detail provided in GPP13: Vehicle THE RESPONSIBLE CAR WASH washing & cleaning, which is used in SCHEME (RCWS) Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Responsible Car Wash Scheme The response also agreed to write was jointly launched by Downstream to supermarkets reminding them Fuel Association (DFA) and CWA of their environmental and other in 2018. Trials recommended by Sir responsibilities. PRA is pressing for

16 www.ukpra.co.uk 017_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 14:48

EVENTS Market Review 2020

Brian Madderson speaking at The To help you run your business better Forecourt Show we also select companies to come and present at our gatherings. Many of these presenters do oŒer something new in terms of new technology and as the events also involve free coŒee and a buŒet lunch there is also an opportunity to chat to the presenters. This year we are very grateful to the following organisations that have presented: Allego CBE Certas Energy Christie and Co EdgePetrol GripHero Henderson Technology Jackaman Insurance Services LCM Petroassist UK Suresite Group Winckworth Sherwood LLP The meetings also provide a good THE PRA ON THE opportunity for you to query any “technical” issues that you may have, as we always have either Ray Blake or ROAD AGAIN Phil Monger from our technical team on hand for you to chat to. The PRA team travels you managed to attend one of these We were also present at the NEC across the UK to events. We have enjoyed hosting in 2019 at the Forecourt Show and these events at hotels, arenas, sports National Convenience Show. This engage with its stadiums, conference centres and was a well-attended event in terms members racecourses. of exhibitors including many of the Members who attended the major oil companies and visitors. At nce again, in 2019, the PRA meetings have said that they are the shows, visitors had the opportunity used planes, trains and glad they attended and that they to meet us on our stand or listen to Oautomobiles to travel all learnt something. We always try to Brian as he presented on the panel over the UK to meet with members oŒer new presenters from external at its popular Business Breakouts companies and, as highlighted in Brian and Roadshows, in partnership with Madderson’s Review of the Year (pages “The meetings also Thames Communications. 4-8), there is certainly a lot going on for Our travels took us to Exeter us to update you on. The meetings also provide an opportunity (twice), Chatham, Knutsford, Belfast, oŒer an opportunity to learn about and Birmingham, Larkhall, Durham, question industry issues and to raise for you to query any Newmarket, Shrewsbury, Inverness, any important matters you would like Swansea and WakeŠeld. We hope that assistance with. “technical” issues”

Delegates at one discussing the future of mobility. of our Business In 2020 we will be putting on a Breakouts similar number of events right across the UK. Our spring programme is conŠrmed with events booked at Exeter, Brands Hatch, Knutsford, Belfast, Nottingham and Larkhall. The autumn programme will be conŠrmed shortly with the details posted on our website www.ukpra.co.uk/en/events or watch out for your personal invitation in your inbox.

18 www.ukpra.co.uk 019_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 14:31 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS It’s vital that PRA members are provided with the best products and ASSOCIATE services to help them run their businesses as e•ciently as possible. MEMBERS The PRA has strong links with the following Associate Members who provide excellent products and services to our industry:

ACCENTURE FORECOURT EYE Accenture is a leading professional services company Forecourt Eye has developed a viable and proven with capabilities in strategy, consulting, digital, solution that delivers high ‘loss recovery’ results technology and operations. Leveraging its deep and bottom line savings to forecourt operators. In expertise across industries and business functions, it addition, it helps with crime reduction making sites helps organisations shape their vision for the future. safer for both employees and customers. ALLEGO FRANCHISEE FIRST Allego is one of the leading providers of charging Franchisee First is an innovative provider of fuel solutions and EV cloud services in Europe. Its bonds, as a simple, cost-eƒective means of meeting a pan-European network of almost 10,000 charge dealer’s ‘nancial security obligation to their wet stock points oƒers a seamless network across Europe. It suppliers. Fuel bonds are provided on an unsecured is experienced in the forecourt industry, supporting basis by Hiscox and, as such, dealers are free to clients such as Shell and TOTAL to achieve their EV utilise their freed-up cash as they see ‘t. ambitions. GRIPHERO APG CASH DRAWER GripHero is coming to revolutionise forecourt hand APG Cash Drawer is a global manufacturer of cash protection with the most eƒortless, easy-to-use and management solutions, serving a variety of customers convenient way possible for keeping hands clean at and industries. APG has built a reputation as the the pumps – dispensing recyclable hand-protection supplier of choice for cash management solutions directly from the nozzle. in retail, grocery, convenience, hospitality and quick serve around the world. HENDERSON TECHNOLOGY Developed for the convenience and fuel forecourt CBE market by Henderson Technology, EDGEPoS is one CBE is recognised as one of the leading innovators of the only worldwide epos systems that has been within the UK epos market. For more than three designed by retailers, for retailers. It oƒers a fully decades, it has been providing innovative software scalable, real-time solution supporting businesses solutions to a wide range of retailers throughout the from one to 100 lanes. country. A key factor in its success is its focus on the technological development of epos software. It has a JACKAMAN INSURANCE SERVICES dedicated research and development centre, staƒed Jackaman Insurance Services provides insurance by expert engineers, and is proud to spearhead new solutions for an entire spectrum of commercial technological developments which go on to become clients. The company has expertise in dealing with the the industry standard. petrol retail industry and has bespoke contracts which have been developed for PRA members. CHRISTIE & CO Christie & Co is the leading specialist advisor for THE EV NETWORK buying and selling businesses in convenience Founded in 2017, The EV Network was formed as a retail and petrol ‘lling stations. It is at the forefront dedicated EV charging infrastructure development of the sector, with years of experience identifying company to address the challenges faced by both and managing local, and often special, purchases in site hosts and chargepoint operators in rolling out granular detail. It has the largest team of specialist a network of EV charging infrastructure across the retail agents dedicated to the sector, with retail UK. The EV Network is able to provide its partners expertise available in each and every one of the with fully funded bespoke technology and service company’s 15 UK o•ces. solutions. EDGEPETROL WINCKWORTH SHERWOOD EdgePetrol is helping retailers throughout the UK A full-service law ‘rm with a diverse client base, and Europe transform how they run their businesses. Winckworth Sherwood prides itself on providing EdgePetrol gives dealers real-time access to their key market-leading advice across a broad range of sectors metrics all in one place, allowing them to make informed and markets. Clients include national supermarkets decisions around volumes, margins, pricing and and convenience store operators, oil companies and procurement to enhance the pro‘tability of their business. several of Forecourt Trader’s Top 50 Independent forecourt retailers. 20 www.ukpra.co.uk Take control back.

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whether or not to embrace electric vehicle (EV) charging. When that will TO EV OR NOT be is dependent upon a vast range of factors. Some forecourt operators are being proactive and either already have TO EV? EV charging or are planning to have it installed in the near future. Others are happy with their current business The PRA’s technical manager Ray Blake model and are waiting to react when contemplates the adoption of electric vehicles the time is right.

THE FUTURE OF HYDROCARBONS t is the question that spends a great My intention is to wait for at least Whenever I am in the company of deal of time bouncing around in another year and then most likely anyone linked to the petrol forecourt Imy head. My personal perspective invest in a hybrid car. Fortunately, we industry, the future of forecourts is that, along with the hundreds of have off-street parking and can easily supplying hydrocarbon fuels soon thousands of people that aren’t buying have an electric vehicle charging point becomes the topic of conversation. or leasing a new car, that would have installed which, with the right hybrid done had the decision not become car, should give me somewhere around complicated by the transition to low or 60 miles on the batteries before the “My intention is to wait zero emission vehicles, I am waiting internal combustion engine is needed. for at least another year to see which propulsion system will Plus, for at least a few years, it will be best suit my needs and be the most ULEZ charge exempt. and then most likely economic over the next few years. This question will be asked millions I live within the suburbs of London, of times in households across the UK. invest in a hybrid car” my wife and I have diesel cars. I drive The outcome of these decisions will around 12,000 miles per year, of which impact on the sales of hydrocarbon Although my expertise is centred on 75% is on long journeys around the vehicle fuels and hence the business the safe operation of petrol forecourts UK. However, we both use our cars to models of petrol forecourt operators. and not their financial viability, I will visit our daughter who lives less than The Government is pushing its pass on the predictions and plans for 15 miles away within the Ultra-Low policies and ambitions for low and the future of a range of different types Emission Zone (ULEZ) that is being zero emission vehicles, and the car of petrol forecourt from conversations introduced from October 2021. From manufacturers are scaling down the I have had, and that I believe to be then on, to visit her using either of our production of internal combustion rational and realistic. They are all cars, or to go anywhere else within the engine vehicles and ramping up the dependent upon the location of the south or north circular roads will cost production of hybrid and battery site and the demographic of their us – at the current rate – £12.50 each electric vehicles. At some point, petrol customers. time. forecourt operators will have to decide Firstly, I know that there are already plans for some city centre petrol filling stations to have their liquid fuel infrastructure replaced with EV charging points. Eventually, only zero emission vehicles will be permitted in city centres and as there are very few homes in cities that can accommodate off-street charging, the demand will be for EV charging. Secondly, it is predicted that sites located in suburbs where local policies such as low emission zones impact on people driving into cities, and where most people will be able to charge their cars on their own property or at their place of work, will see a rise in the numbers of hybrid and battery electric vehicles and consequently a reduction in the sale of liquid fuel. It has been identified that this category of site tends to be ▹

24 www.ukpra.co.uk Now nationwide

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located where a ‚ammable atmosphere of Petroleum and Explosives is or may be present is certied to a Administration (APEA) and the standard appropriate for the situation. Energy Institute (EI) – advises that I doubt that this it is viable for all elements of EV charging should EV equipment to be manufactured be outside of hazard areas and that it to a standard that would enable is not acceptable for an EV charging it to be certied for use alongside system to be connected to an earthing petrol dispensing. A consultant who system separate from that of the lling specialises in the electrical safety of station. Plus, it advises that the EV petrol forecourts has been quoted charger supply must be controlled by as stating ‘the last place you should the forecourt emergency switching ▹ in fairly auent areas and typically Pictured, above: consider installing EV charging is on system. This would apply to both low includes convenience shopping. So, as Filling stations a petrol forecourt’. However, there is and high voltage EV systems. need to consider the need for fuel dispensing positions their customer guidance on how EV charging may be The Institution of Engineering and decreases, the sites can benet from demographic and installed on petrol lling stations. Technology (IET), Code of Practice for location when being able to accommodate more deciding whather to When it comes to the power ranges Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment short-term customer parking. replace liquid fuel of EV charging, we need to di erentiate provides guidance on how EV charging infrastructure with EV Another category is motorway charging stations between two levels of charging. Firstly, may be installed in compliance with services and sites located on major there is low voltage which will provide the Electricity at Work Regulations roads. This is where it is most likely up to around 150kw. Above that is 1989. A new version is currently to be necessary to combine liquid high voltage up to 350kw. High voltage in draft to cover high voltage EV fuel sales alongside EV charging requires the supply to come from installations. To facilitate high voltage and possibly other zero emission an immediately adjacent electrical charging requires the installation of an fuels such as hydrogen. These are substation. electrical substation but the earthing the locations where customers are As I write, the published guidance arrangements for electrical substations likely to be either those that regularly doesn’t cover the installation of high are complicated and onerous. The travel long distances or those where voltage charging on petrol forecourts, advice from the PRA is that should you their typical daily journeys are short, but advice is being drafted and due for be considering an installation of this but they occasionally use their car to release within the next few months. nature, a specialist consultant should travel further and where range requires The Blue Book – to give it its be employed. refuelling or recharging en route. full title: Design, construction, The Petroleum Enforcement Liaison The nal category of petrol lling modication, maintenance and Group has issued guidance (PELG – station is those that are in areas where decommissioning of lling stations, PETEL 20) available from the Energy there are no policies in place that will published jointly by the Association Institute website. This covers the legal force drivers into low or zero emission responsibilities of petrol forecourt vehicles and where typically their operators regarding EV charging. customers own older vehicles. These “There is no doubt that There is no doubt that for many sites will be the last to have to consider forecourt operators the transition installing EV charging. the transition to low or to low or zero emission vehicles I should also mention that there zero emission vehicles will bring challenges. But during the are already plans for new large EV four decades in which I have been charging-only sites to be located will bring challenges” associated with petrol forecourts, I adjacent to major routes to cater for cannot remember a time that wasn’t the predicted shortfall of EV charging challenging for some reason. points. The business case for these sites is comparable with many petrol lling stations in that their protability depends on the provision of services other than vehicle fuelling such as co ee, food to go, etc. Some proposals include meeting rooms, temporary o­ce facilities and restaurants so that vehicles can be lled with electrons while their occupants are elsewhere on site.

SAFE OPERATION One major aspect of safeguarding against the ‚ammable vapour being Some forecourt owners have been ignited on a petrol forecourt is to proactive and have already installed EV charging facilities ensure that electrical equipment

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he Car Wash Association (CWA) International Anti-Slavery Commission Prevention Mobilisation Hub could be is ghting hard to encourage and the Clewer Initiative) and Accenture, extended to non-compliant HCW. Tmore strenuous enforcement the multi-national professional services A good working relationship has of existing regulations relating to company. The group is currently been established with the Ošce for car washing. Disappointingly, and exploring ways to improve the Safe Car Labour Market Enforcement (OLME) as has been well documented, the Wash app, originally developed by The whose Strategy Report 2018-19 covered Government’s focus has hitherto been Clewer Initiative, for a major update in the serious issue of non-compliant and on other matters and we are constantly 2020. As part of its pro bono Tech4Good criminal HCW. We now look forward to reminding them of the urgent need to programme, Accenture will support meeting Matthew Taylor, the OLME’s address the issues highlighted in the the redesign of the app. Ultimately, it new director, with a view to collaborating Parliamentary Environmental Audit is intended that the app user will be with his recently announced roundtable Committee’s (EAC) 2018 report. provided with details of nearby car discussion schemes. This resumé summarises the level washes that comply with the Responsible We have continued to engage with of the CWA’s commitment to more Car Wash Scheme (RCWS) that is also e ectively and quickly deal with the actively supported by the Gangmasters serious criminal issues arising from the & Labour Abuse Association (GLAA), so “We are constantly uncontrolled spread of hand car washes informing customers about alternatives (HCW) across the UK over the last 15 to rogue HCWs. reminding of the need years. Disappointingly, it does appear The newly appointed independent that many Government departments and anti-slavery commissioner, Dame to address these issues” agencies still fail to understand that their Sara Thornton, with whom we had an lack of enforcement is a prime reason for extremely constructive meeting last HM Revenue & Customs both in London this phenomenon. summer, introduced the CWA to the and regional ošces during 2018-19. With this in mind, the CWA has Police Crime Prevention Initiative (PCPI) Despite HMRC’s activities described formed a working group between The and the British Parking Association, in Sections 7 & 8 of the EAC Report, Clewer Initiative’s The Rt Reverend which runs the PCPI’s crime reducing the number or modus operandi of Dr Alastair Redfern (chair of both the Park Mark scheme. This is growing and gangmaster-style HCW operations has currently covers over 5,000 private and yet to see substantive reduction. The Car Wash public car parks across the UK where Notwithstanding an apparent Association’s Alexander non-compliant HCW could presently be lack of urgency in responding to the operating. The BPA is now considering recommendations concerning them in Russell outlines the adding the RCWS to its well-established the EAC Report, we continue to engage group’s latest work to auditing scheme. We also plan to meet with both national and local ošces clean up the industry the Metropolitan Police Service with of the Environment & Rural A airs/ PCPI to determine whether its new Environment Agency. We feel that more pro-active prevention and control of the illegal disposal of toxic trade e¡uent into storm water drains will help close down A CLEAN FIGHT the worst o ending HCWs. We have met recently with the Local Government Association and we are undertaking specic local projects (e.g. in York and Harpenden) to highlight planning anomalies with HCW. This has proved to be an unusually challenging year or so with no less than 34 ministerial changes since Theresa May became Prime Minister. With the General Election now out of the way, we hope that business uncertainty will be reduced by getting Brexit done, and the Government will become more focused on domestic matters. This will bring about investment in services which will mean increased budgets for regulatory authorities allowing better enforcement to take place which might, in turn, a ect the number of HCWs. The CWA remains committed and condent that the number of rogue HCWs will be signicantly reduced.

28 www.ukpra.co.uk Made for the best by the best.

029_PRA_2020.indd 1 13/12/2019 3:22 pm CAR WASH Market Review 2020 THE CAR WASH SHOW EUROPE  Some 2,300 people linear technology, which allows cars to Purmerend; One2Wash in Zaandam from 54 countries be washed ‘quicker and smarter’. and AtTheCarWash Company in visited the Car Wash Delegates also had the chance to Wormerveer. join the sold out Car Wash Tour around The Car Wash Show Europe is Show Europe 2019 at Amsterdam. organised by the International Carwash De Kromhouthal in More than 200 visitors visited Association and its CEO Eric Wulf. The Amsterdam three car wash sites: CarwashPlus in next Show will take place in 2021.

ixty exhibitors showed o the latest in car wash technology and Smachinery at the Car Wash Show Europe 2019. In addition, 12 workshops and seminars were held across the two- day event, covering topics as diverse as the rise of digitalisation and connected cars, to how to motivate sta. Speakers included Car Wash Association chairman Brian Madderson, who talked about the challenges of tackling modern slavery and the environmental damage done by the UK’s rogue hand car washes. While Mika Alapiesa of Superoperator from Finland spoke about optimising and speeding up a car wash. And WashTec’s Jim Rennie described the company’s

THE CAR WASH HALL OF FAME

PRA and Car Wash Association chair Brian Madderson was given a Car Wash Hall of Fame Award at the Car Wash Show 2019 awards ceremony and networking dinner. Distinguished Acheivement awards were given to Brian, representing the Car Wash Association UK, and Suzanne Huisman (Belgische Beroepsvereniging Reiniging Voertuigen, Belgium). PHOTOS: Courtesy of Promedia Group Courtesy PHOTOS:

30 www.ukpra.co.uk THE FAMILY IS NOW COMPLETE




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032-33_PRA_2020.indd 33 16/12/2019 4:48 pm OIL MARKET OVERVIEW Market Review 2020 EXPERIAN CATALIST MARKET SUMMARY REPORT (Data released November 2019)

ere we provide you with a summary of the data in the latest release of the Experian Catalist UK database. All data is based Hon ‘open’ sites (including sites under development and excluding non-retail sites).

MARKET SHARE BY BRAND Brands are listed in order of market share for motor fuel volume sales (see de•nition below).

Brand* Number Average MF % % Eectiveness of open volume per Market Outlet **** sites site (kl p/a) share MF share ** *** volume TESCO 509 11,365 15.9 6.1 2.63 BP 1,221 4,317 14.5 14.6 0.99 SHELL 1,070 4,697 13.8 12.8 1.08 ESSO 1,205 3,725 12.4 14.4 0.86 SAINSBURY’S 315 11,768 10.2 3.8 2.72 MORRISONS 335 10,542 9.7 4.0 2.44 ASDA 324 8,665 7.7 3.9 1.99 TEXACO 726 2,532 5.0 8.7 0.58 CERTAS ENERGY † 711 1,255 2.5 8.5 0.29 JET 312 2,422 2.1 3.7 0.56 CO-OP † † 99 3,976 1.1 1.2 0.92 APPLEGREEN 106 3,517 1.0 1.3 0.81 UNBRANDED 526 531 0.8 6.3 0.12 MINOR 212 1,201 0.7 2.5 0.27 BRAND MURCO 180 1,163 0.6 2.1 0.27 HARVEST 80 2,405 0.5 1.0 0.56 ENERGY MAXOL 96 1,571 0.4 1.1 0.36 ESSAR 73 1,495 0.3 0.9 0.35 CIRCLE K † † 49 1,660 0.2 0.6 0.38 SOLO 63 847 0.1 0.8 0.20 STAR 37 1,189 0.1 0.4 0.27 FOOD STORE 31 1,408 0.1 0.4 0.33 GLEANER 53 774 0.1 0.6 0.18 THAMES 28 715 0.1 0.3 0.17 RIX 24 752 0.0 0.3 0.17 TOTAL 8,385 4,341

NOTE: §† Certas Energy – Gulf (441); Pace (140); Power (23); Scottish Fuels (21); UK (25); other brands (61) †† Co-op Share Brand is Co-op sites from various societies operating under their own Co-op branded pole sign (other Co-op dealer sites operating under other fuel brands, eg Texaco, are shown under that Share brand). ††† Circle K – includes sites branded Topaz * Brands include sub-brands or subsidiaries as appropriate (identi•ed as Share Brand in the database). ** Open sites column includes all currently operating petrol stations and those sites that are under development at time of publishing. *** MF Volume refers to all grades of fuel bought on the forecourt by cars, vans and light commercial vehicles (petrol, diesel, LPG etc.) and is based on Experian Catalist estimates. This excludes fuel sold to the HGV commercial sector usually through separate facilities away from the normal forecourt. **** E¥ectiveness is Volume Market Share divided by Outlet Market Share.

34 www.ukpra.co.uk WE BELIEVE IN MAKINGMarket Review 2019 RETAIL EASIER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS

TOP — DEALER GROUPS ™ SITES BY FUEL BRAND BP ESSO JET SHELL TEXACO OTHER TOTAL MOTOR FUEL LTD 245 328 68 160 88 4 893 EURO 40 264 0 75 4 1 384 GARAGES RONTEC 64 164 0 2 18 0 248 CO-OP GROUP 0 0 3 1 71 72 147 TOTAL 349 756 71 238 181 77 1,672

MARKET SHARE BY OWNERSHIP The table below shows how the UK market is divided according to ownership. Ownership Number Average % % E
ective- of open volume per Market share Outlet ness sites site (kl p.a.) MF volume share COMPANY 1,371 4,890 18.4 16.4 1.12 DEALER 5,417 2,470 36.8 64.6 0.57 HYPERMARKET 1,597 10,219 44.8 19.0 2.35 TOTAL 8,385 4,341

DEFINITIONS: Company: owned by the supplying oil company whose name appears on the With 61% of all payments now made by card, brand sign. Dealer: An independently owned site usually supplied under an agreement with an oil company whose name usually appears on the brand sign. Also includes unbranded sites with no oil company identi’cation. Hypermarket: Owned and operated by the multiple retailers (hypermarket your customers expect the latest technology and groups). Also includes sites that may be away from the main hypermarket store but are owned and branded by the hypermarket, and includes Co-op Stores with Co-op fuel-branded forecourts. ƽI\MFMPMX]EXXLIXMPP

MARKET DEVELOPMENT BY BRAND GemPay 3 is The table below compares the number of open and under-development sites by brand, for the current release of data and the same period last the perfect year. It also shows the change in site numbers for each brand during the last 12 months to give a clearer picture of which brands are expanding tamper proof and which brands are reducing their site numbers. and secure PCI Brand No. open sites No. open sites Di
erence V3 2018 V3 2019 PTS 5 approved APPLEGREEN 101 106 5 payment terminal ASDA 321 324 3 BP 1,228 1,221 -7 CERTAS ENERGY 764 711 -53 • Latest generation of payment terminal. CIRCLE K 49 49 0 • Utilises Ingenico’s latest innovative hardware to CO-OP 78 99 21 offer you the most reliable payment terminal. ESSAR 52 73 21 • ESSO 1,178 1,205 27 Offers you and your customers quick, dependable FOOD STORE 31 31 0 and secure transactions. GLEANER 55 53 -2 • Make the transaction experience more engaging HARVEST ENERGY 79 80 1 with the high-resolution colour screen and touch- JET 327 312 -15 screen capabilities. MAXOL 97 96 -1 • Designed to reduce down-time and increase MINOR BRAND 211 212 1 longevity. MORRISONS 335 335 0 • MURCO 183 180 -3 Accepts contactless cards, fuel cards, loyalty cards, RIX 28 24 -4 mobile app payments, credit & debit cards. SAINSBURY’S 312 315 3 SHELL 1,052 1,070 18 SOLO 63 63 0 STAR 38 37 -1 TESCO 507 509 2 TEXACO 724 726 2 THAMES 28 28 0 UNBRANDED 553 526 -27 TOTAL 8,394 8,385 -9 www.htec.co.uk [email protected] +44 (0) 23 8068www.ukpra.co.uk 9491 33 OIL MARKET OVERVIEW Market Review 2020

COMPARISON OF SHOP SALES IN RELATION TO SHOP AND FUEL SALES The table below gives average shop sales per annum and average shop size and looks at the relationship between the two. It also shows average shop sales per annum per thousand litres of fuel sold, which gives an insight into the strength of the relationship between fuel and shop sales across the various brands. Brand Average Average Average Shop Average Shop Sales Shop Size Sales/Sq shop sales in (£’000 p.a.) (sq m) Metre Shop £/’000 litres Space fuel sold NUMBER OF SITES WITH A SHOP APPLEGREEN 618 79 7,853 176 OR CAR WASH BY BRAND ASDA 520 66 7,887 58 The table below shows the percentage of sites with a shop and car wash BP 820 104 7,852 190 by brand. CERTAS 343 52 6,570 217 Brand Number of % Sites with % Sites with ENERGY Open Sites Shop Car Wash CIRCLE K 983 112 8,786 592 APPLEGREEN 106 100 48 CO-OP 1,208 162 7,462 304 ASDA 324 19 35 BP 1,221 100 53 ESSAR 306 49 6,204 196 CERTAS ENERGY 711 68 29 ESSO 857 90 9,555 230 CIRCLE K 49 100 31 FOOD STORE 624 89 6,978 443 CO-OP 99 99 72 GLEANER 175 40 4,350 181 ESSAR 73 92 26 ESSO 1,205 100 45 HARVEST 363 45 8,003 150 ENERGY FOOD STORE 31 100 58 JET 395 58 6,823 163 GLEANER 53 64 42 HARVEST ENERGY 80 96 21 MAXOL 757 90 8,374 463 JET 312 99 60 MINOR 316 55 5,691 268 MAXOL 96 88 57 BRAND MINOR BRAND 212 56 21 MORRISONS 405 40 10,171 38 MORRISONS 335 99 90 MURCO 332 54 6,146 260 MURCO 180 85 25 RIX 278 39 7,161 258 RIX 24 50 0 SAINSBURY’S 592 67 8,824 49 SAINSBURY’S 315 96 65 SHELL 1,070 100 49 SHELL 597 76 7,882 127 SOLO 63 89 37 SOLO 419 57 7,330 480 STAR 37 97 35 STAR 699 78 8,975 585 TESCO 509 97 50 TESCO 500 46 10,788 43 TEXACO 726 99 54 TEXACO 569 77 7,428 224 THAMES 28 68 54 UNBRANDED 526 51 14 THAMES 147 31 4,770 158 TOTAL 8,385 UNBRANDED 209 42 4,980 283

36 www.ukpra.co.uk WE BELIEVE IN MAKING RETAIL EASIER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS

FURTHER INFORMATION For an explanation of these ˆgures or if you require any further information, please contact: Business critical information, in true real-time, when it matters ARTHUR RENSHAW Major Account Manager, most, on any device, anytime, UK and Ireland Experian Catalist anywhere. Tel: +44 (0) 7971 070 716 Email: [email protected] Over 5,500 stores trust HTEC to deliver great customer experiences everyday by enabling them JAMES HAIGH to simplify their systems, gain accuracy and Business Consultant control over their data with true real-time visibility, Experian Catalist ensuring IƾGMIRGMIW and future capability to Mob: +44 (0) 777 914 0937 Email: [email protected] scale and grow with their business.

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ELECTROMOBILITY Andrew Oakes, UK development around in the future and how they will going to accelerate as bene t in kind manager at charging solutions look to oer us other mobility services bene ts for driving an EV or hybrid make and not just the car. this a serious consideration if you have a specialist Allego, asks: will your In addition, the other opportunity for company car. next car be electric? them is to create new recurring revenues Another key question for most people, as big data becomes very important to of course, is how much does it cost to understand our future transport needs. ‘ ll-up’/charge my car? The cheapest ver the last few years, there’s Now we all carry smartphones, we are way will always be to charge at home on been a lot of news about starting to see organisations using this an overnight electricity tari with your Oelectric vehicles (EVs) but data to accurately follow our movements home energy supplier. The challenge it doesn’t seem that long ago, when as individuals rather than, say, a tra†c is that you will need o-street parking Jeremy Clarkson used to talk about them survey, which counts cars but not for this as you would have a small slow on Top Gear, that they were seen as a people. charger installed on your house and then novelty that may never take o. Since The public perception when thinking a fairly thick cable trailing and connected then, we have seen the rst generation about buying an electric car is that they to the car overnight. But around half of cars for the public to buy, but there is are expensive compared to an internal of the UK’s households don’t have o- still a long way to go. combustion engine equivalent, and then street parking. Now ranges are getting Of course, successive governments there’s range anxiety with fairly limited longer a public charger is likely to be a have shifted policies towards ranges of 100-plus miles on a charge consideration for most people and is encouraging people to switch to low- and then, lastly, lack of places to charge. much quicker, with charge times ranging or zero-emission cars and that trend One, or all, of these reasons has been from 10 minutes to one hour. is set to continue, but when the car the challenge for the manufacturers to Until now, consumer choice for manufacturing industry as a whole is convince drivers make their next car electric cars has been limited to a few now moving its future plans towards electric. manufacturers and models. Over the these vehicles, you know a change is As more and more models come to next few years there will be a much wider under way. market and tooling costs drop, we will choice available in the UK, see page 40 ‘Electromobility’ is the new buzz start to see costs reduce and the gap for a snapshot of the models that will be word, as manufacturers are now looking, narrow. available, and then, perhaps, your next in a new way, at how people will move Fleet and company car uptake is car could be electric?

38 www.ukpra.co.uk 039_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 14:54 ENERGY TRANSITION Market Review 2020 EV CARS STATE OF PLAY

ALFA ROMEO KIA PININFARINA Electric compact crossover e-Niro available now Battista hypercar 2020 by 2022 Soul EV (can be ordered) RENAULT ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA Twizy and Zoe available now RapidE model available now SUV model 2022 8 EV models by 2022

AUDI LAND ROVER RIMAC E-Tron model available now, EV Range Rover – date tbc C_Two production begins in with GT and Q4 versions 2020 2020, 20 new EV models by LEXUS 2020 UX300e 2021 SEAT Mii electric available now and BENTLEY LOTUS el-Born hatchback 2020 Full EV model to be launched Lotus Evija hypercar available in 2025 now SKODA Citigo eiV 2020 BMW MASERATI 4 EV models by 2025 I3 models available now Al›eri sports car 2020 iX3, SUV, i4 sports saloon due 5 more EV models by 2023 SMART in 2020/21 Smart EQ car range available MAZDA now CITROËN Mazda MX-30 2021 Citroën Berlingo electric van SSANGYONG available now MERCEDESBENZ SsangYong Korando family DS 3 E-Tense 2019 EQV 2020 SUV 2021 plus Tivoli to follow Dispatch and Relay EV Vans 10 new models by 2025 2020 No ICE cars by 2039 SUBARU Toyota Subaru Pure-Electric FIAT MG SUV tbc Fiat 500e 2020 ZS EV available now Giardiniera 2022 TESLA Panda 2022 (likely) MINI Model 3 Model S Model X Mini Cooper SE hatchback available now FORD (March 2020) Ford Mustang Mach-E 2020 TOYOTA Transit EV Van 2021 NISSAN 10 EV models by 2025 F-150 pick-up truck planned Leaf and nv-200 combi van 16 EV models by 2022 available now VAUXHALL 8 new models by 2022 Corsa-e available now HONDA Mokka SUV 2020 Honda e 2020 PEUGEOT Combo Life and Vivaro 2021 More models from 2022 e-208 2020, e-2008 2020, e-3008 2020 VOLVO HYUNDAI 2020 Volvo XC40 Recharge Ioniq and Kona available now POLESTAR electric SUV 40 models by 2025 Polestar 2 2020, Polestar 3 New EV model promised SUV (date TBC) every year and all other cars JAGUAR hybrid, no ICE I-Pace available now PORSCHE Jaguar XJ coming soon Porsche Taycan available now VOLKSWAGEN Macan, Cayman and Boxster Volkswagen ID3 2020 JEEP up to 2023 20 EV models tbc Four EV models by 2022 e-Golf available now

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he fuel retailer is no stranger to spend more on premium quality fuel. in order to be successful. This means a challenge. As we look forward The increase in ridesharing services transitioning the forecourt away from Tinto 2020, across the energy, and growing availability of electric global oerings towards speci­cally automotive and retail sectors, there are vehicles (EVs), including the advances selected, and site-speci­c, services, a few more trials to gear up to. being made in competitor charging and developing an understanding In the automotive and fuel infrastructure speed and availability, of consumers at the individual level. retail industries, many factors also take demand away from fuel This will create a relevant, targeted are contributing to declining fuel retailers altogether. experience – online and in store – that consumption. A general shift away In the retail sector, consumers are keeps them coming back. from traditional car ownership demanding a hyper-personalised retail compounds the existing threat oered experience. The perceptive fuel retailer, by conveniently located hypermarkets, like any retailer, needs to become “The perceptive fuel as consumers become less inclined to obsessive about customer demands retailer needs to The future is bright for the fuel retailer who become obsessive about provides hyper-personalised experiences to their customers, says Accenture’s Stephen Knight, customer demands” managing director in Customer, Insights and Fuel retailers aren’t the only retailers Growth; James Hallam, managing director in suering. Traditional retailers are also being threatened by increased Energy Consulting; and Rushad Chinoy, principal online competition, digitally savvy director and fuels retail lead alternatives, and higher expectations from customers. What can fuel retailers learn from the trends being seen across the retail sector? The overarching question is the same: Why THE FORECOURT should customers ful­l their needs GETS PERSONAL here instead of somewhere else? DATA REVEALS WHAT DRIVES CUSTOMERS Having a consistent, albeit high quality, ‘one size ­ts all’ approach will no longer suŠce. A consumer expects to be an individual, not a segment. Historically, retailers make their decisions based on their existing customers’ data – stock volumes, sales receipts and loyalty data. But how do you attract new customers and know what they want? This is where pro­ling analytics come in. 83% of business and IT executives agree that digital demographics give their organisations a new way to identify market opportunities for unmet customer needs. Factors such as area demographics (income levels, number of people registered per household), traŠc ’ow, local schools, hospitals and libraries, can help determine footfall. Proximity of competition is also important, including the type of competition (i.e. other fuel retailers or smaller shops Data from mobile that source local products). This data phone network providers can help to is all available to network planners analyse patterns in and should be utilised in order to consumer behaviour create a vision for the site within its geographical context and help ▹

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There are many ways a fuel retailer can use digital to enhance the customer experience, promote a local sharing economy and benet from a more desirable local product range. Nearly 50% of fuel retailers recently surveyed said they are already forming strategic partnerships outside of their organisation to access new technologies and digital innovation. Additionally, of all the fuel retailers who are actively investing in digital technologies, 72% were looking for better customer retention using digital.

THE CONSUMER IS CHANGING Consumers expect Customers are more demanding a personalised, immersive and of their personal experience, more seamless shopping connected to alternatives and are more experience demanding of their local economy … all

▹ prioritise new services and initiatives. Payments and Personalised experience Store layout and services Community conscious Retailers can purchase data from assistance on-the-go mobile phone network providers to analyse patterns in consumer No queues and Individual oers Dynamic real-time product Selling locally sourced pro- cashier-less check- based on location, pricing via digital shelf edge duce and providing rental behaviour. Where are people outs day, time and infor- labels for convenience and space for local businesses congregated at dierent times of mation from other to maximise customer sat- to sell their own goods Mobile self- connected apps (such isfaction while maximising day? Where do people spend their scanning as you go, as ones that alert you margin Using data analytics to time compared to where they live and and mobile payments when specic items reduce energy consump- to eliminate check- are low in stock) Bringing alive the online tion at retail sites, and work? Do people travel an indirect outs all together experience within the store, partnering with renewable route home to visit more appealing Personalised digital with click and collect or energy providers Counterless stores marketing in store home delivery of an extended competition? When analysing potential enable sta to be on made possible by inventory Oering carbon osets as new products and services, internet the ’oor for a more facial recognition or part of day-to-day transac- personal and seam- mobile ‘check-in’ Converging retail and tions and utilising land to browsing patterns can be a vital source less service wellness spaces to oer create greener spaces of insight. There are already a number customers new services they wouldn’t expect of solutions on the market that provide this type of information, such as those that enable retailers to understand Consumers expect a personalised, where else individuals (identied only immersive and seamless shopping by a MAC ID) are shopping. experience through every touchpoint. “The physical shop Experience in store also consists MAKE EXPERIENCES MATTER of more than just revamping its is still an integral Despite the ever-increasing presence of aesthetics, it’s about the emotive part of the consumer’s smartphones and the ability to interact response of the local (carbon- with companies remotely, the physical conscious) consumer. Whilst EVs retail needs” shop is still an integral part of the are becoming more common on our consumer’s retail needs. roads, and the increased stay time Consumer surveys show 70% of of these customers is important to the while still expecting a competitive older millennials and 77% of Gen Z factor into services being oered by price. The fuel retailer needs to be shoppers still prefer to shop in stores. sites, retailers cannot just yet ignore able to constantly anticipate changing While this is great news for fuel the needs of B2C or B2B customers customer needs, provide hyper- retailers and their bricks and mortar who rely on traditional hydrocarbons, personalised oers across all channels, networks, do today’s physical stores e.g., large ’eet vehicles, heavy goods in ways that are eortless for the provide the experience consumers are vehicles. customer to interact with. Spaces need looking for? 83% of business and IT Sites will need to retain some of to be convenient, easy to redesign, and executives agree that understanding their traditional infrastructure and oer a ’avour of the local community consumers’ behaviour around services in an innovative way that to make people feel at home. In other technology will be critical for their will continue to reward and promote words, retailers need to provide an organisation to increase customer loyalty, whilst making these customers experience that has the right products, loyalty. It’s no longer enough to just feel like they are being locally and the right services, at the right time, have a great mobile app. environmentally conscious. both on and osite.

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distinctive design. Harvest Energy has already worked TOTAL RETURNS alongside TOTAL for a number of years, both within the UK and internationally. Consequently, the good relationship that TO THE UK developed between the two businesses provided the ideal foundation to build a Harvest Energy outlines its plans to develop its network of better partnership across the UK. Under service stations with the support of TOTAL the alliance, TOTAL o“ers Harvest Energy a reliable fuel supply, while customers gain direct access to a wide range of ne of the industry’s major growing network of service stations TOTAL-branded products and services, news stories of 2019 was across the UK with the support and including TOTAL EXCELLIUM premium Othe announcement of the expertise of TOTAL, and secures its fuel fuels, TOTAL EUROTRAFIC® fuel cards fuel network agreement between supply. and TOTAL Lubricants products. major energy player TOTAL, and The agreement will see a number Harvest Energy has always been Harvest Energy, a member of the Prax of company-owned and dealer-owned synonymous with o“ering high quality Group – a leading global independent service stations re-branded under the customer service and an exemplary retail trading, storage, distribution and retail TOTAL name. The †rst TOTAL service experience on its forecourts. Through conglomerate dealing in petroleum station was opened at the end of 2019 the partnership with TOTAL, customers products and bio-fuels. The agreement (in Thirsk, North Yorkshire), with further can continue to expect an enjoyable allows Harvest Energy to develop its deployment continuing throughout 2020. experience at all branded service stations; The signing of this agreement the strong customer-centric approach “Committed to provide represents a major achievement for championed by both brands being what TOTAL in the UK, after leaving the fuel di“erentiates them from the competition. aordable, reliable retail market in 2012 – not just for the TOTAL is renowned as a brand for services business, but also for the TOTAL its attention to its customers, and for and clean energy to Lindsey Oil Re†nery in Lincolnshire, with striving to meet their expectations in a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day, terms of safety, responsibility, cleanliness, the largest number and which has supplied Harvest Energy proximity and convenience. for many years. It is an opportunity When Harvest Energy †rst came to of people, TOTAL’s for Harvest Energy to capitalise on the market in 2006, the brand brought the TOTAL heritage and strong brand greater transparency to the fuel sector, ambition is to become recognition in the UK. More than a something that the company continues brand, TOTAL is a reference and a to maintain. At the heart of the business the ‘Responsible Energy guarantee of quality and safety, with lies a culture of integrity, where the Major’” one of the main elements of a TOTAL- customer always comes †rst. branded service station including its Harvest Energy, already respected as

The rst TOTAL service station was opened in Thirsk at the end of 2019

▹

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Gilbarco Veeder-Root invests in technologies to drive its future forecourt vision. KeepingKeeping thethe worldworld movingmoving forfor overover 150150 yyearsears byby supportingsupporting thethe world’sworld’s forecourtsforecourts meansmeans thatthat wewe understandunderstand thethe changingchanging faceface ofof mobilitymobility betterbetter thanthan anyone.anyone. FromFrom advancedadvanced cloud-basedcloud-based wetstockwetstock monitoringmonitoring andand retailretail automation,automation, toto high-poweredhigh-powered electricelectric chargerschargers aandnd hhigh-techigh-tech dispensingdispensing solutions,solutions, wewe areare herehere forfor everyevery stepstep ofof youryour questquest toto deliverdeliver thethe ultimateultimate customercustomer experience.experience. Let’sLet’s taketake a llookook atat somesome ofof GilbarcoGilbarco Veeder-Root’sVeeder-Root’s innovationsinnovations andand recentrecent developments.developments.

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re™ected in lower assessments. Rates also act as a barrier to investments. Operators have to nance their own site improvements and their reward is that they are then taxed at approximately half of the extra rental value of those improvements each year. The main problem, though, is with the sheer amount of money raised, as demonstrated by the poundage rising from 34p in the pound in 1990 to over 50p now, despite the system also capturing the bene t of any growth in value at regular intervals. So what does the future hold for rates? As this is being written before the general election, all I can say is that if the election is close, my prophecy is more sticking plasters for the existing system. A strong majority may bring reform, but I cannot see an absence of some continuing form of property taxation. Property taxes are great for governments, as you cannot up sticks and avoid them without leaving the TIME FOR CHANGE property behind. The full report can be viewed at: https://publications. Paul Sewell, managing director of MUA Property Services, parliament.uk/pa/cm201920/cmselect/ updates us on business rates cmtreasy/222/222.pdf The new 2017 CCA (check/challenge/ appeal) system continues to have a nother year passes, yet nothing value (RV), perhaps to the order of 5% slow start and could yet run into a brick seems to change. ATM issues or less on most sites, assuming their wall with any ‘end of List’ arrangements Acontinue to raise problems. I trading gures on each income stream, – anyone remember when pre-2015 reported the Court of Appeal decision forecourt/shop/wash, and relative in last year’s Review, but did issue a to national average pole prices were word of caution. I hope retailers didn’t unchanged in 2018 versus 2015. “The reality is that rates celebrate prematurely, as the Valuation The trading levels will, therefore, be Oce Agency (VOA) successfully the big ‘if’ in determining whether your raised £31 billion worth petitioned the Supreme Court and assessments go up or down. We will the nal appeal is to be heard in be taking steps to try to bring this to a of government income March 2020, with a decision hopefully formal agreement in the coming weeks. in 2018/19” issued by the autumn. The ATM I mentioned the Treasury Committee issues have held up a good number and their October 2019 report on of the thousands of outstanding 2010 business rates, which has been widely savings were revoked with only three List appeals, as recently criticised reported in the press alongside terms months’ prior notice? by the House of Commons Treasury such as ‘broken’ and ‘time for change’. As at October 31, 2019, some 731 Committee. The spectre of triple list Such change will not be easy or come petrol station CCAs had been resolved maintenance looms, as predicted, as overnight and will, of course, require nationally, of which I am proud to the 2010 decision is expected at around a stable government. At the moment say my rm were responsible for 669 the same time as the draft 2021 Rating the legislation to change the next (91.5%) with hundreds more under List is released. revaluation from 2022 to 2021 is not timetable for resolution during 2020. I have recently been in joint PRA/ even in place yet. The reality of the Finally, if you haven’t claimed your UK Petroleum Industry Association situation is that rates raised property yet, remember the link is: negotiations with the VOA to try to £31 billion worth of government www.tax.service.gov.uk/business-rates- agree a scheme of valuation for petrol income in 2018/19 and that is not property-linking/start stations for the 2021 List. At the time easily replaced. The current system has of writing, I am unable to con rm many problems, including ine˜ective • MUA are chartered surveyors, acting on behalf of over 1,500 petrol stations. The speci c details, but we are expecting transitional reliefs and extensive time company’s details can be found on the PRA relatively minor uplifts in rateable lags before any falls in the market are website, in the Members’ section.

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051_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 15:01 BUSINESS Market Review 2020

he convenience sector continues Steve Rodell, Managing Director – Retail at to account for over a fth of the Christie & Co, re„ects on factors a ecting the Toverall grocery market. Petrol forecourt property market lling stations (PFS) represent 10% of the convenience market, with the number of sites sitting at around the stations will remain relevant for the worked as commission operators for 8,400 mark. The sector faces similar foreseeable future. A signicant shift in the large group operators, but now have dynamics to convenience: trading consumer mindset is required for the the aspiration to own and operate their fundamentals remain strong despite take up of EVs to reach critical mass, own business and continue growing. store closures and job losses on the but evidence suggests that the market is high street and at retail parks. in relative infancy, even with large global OIL SUPPLY Consumer behaviour continues car manufacturers pouring billions into Oil prices remained relatively stable in to move in favour of fast-moving research and development. Christie & 2019, averaging around $64 per barrel convenience goods, and this has Co will be monitoring this aspect of the for the rst 11 months of the year. underpinned transactional activity. market closely through our involvement Notably, there was the major attack Developments in alternative fuel in regular focus group discussions. on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure, vehicles (AFVs) present a forthcoming which led to the biggest jump in global challenge to the sector, as the FIRSTˆTIME BUYERS prices since 1988, wiping out around Government pushes on with its Road to The ongoing interest and demand 5% of the world’s oil supply. Although Zero strategy to cut CO2 emissions. The amongst investors for PFS businesses this was a major shock to the market, initiative brings with it many questions remained robust in 2019. There is an prices quickly returned to normal. One for the PFS market. However, recent ever-replenishing pool of rst-time could argue that the world is now less reports of modest increases in electric buyers who remain acquisitive. reactive to oil price shocks compared to vehicle (EV) sales suggest petrol lling Many of these have previously previous years, due to the diminishing reliance on the Far East suppliers of crude oil. Additionally, there has “Interest remained robust. There been growth in alternative countries’ production capabilities and reserves, all is an ever-replenishing pool of of which provides retailers certainty in rst-time buyers who remain fuel margins and fuel pricing. FUEL MARGINS acquisitive” Fuel margins remained buoyant throughout 2019 and we have seen a general upwards trend in gross prot margins that will go some way to meeting rising costs. This has been driven by a mixture of investment into PROPERTY existing sites and more focus on higher grossing products, such as hot and fresh food-to-go, plus cošee. Operators with excess land on their site have VIEW also let property to a third party where possible, usually to a user who will help increase footfall and whose rent helps to ošset operating costs. We expect large portfolio operators to continue reviewing their estates, whilst re-investing in their top sites. There may be some portfolio churn, in order to divest sites which cannot be developed for a suœcient return on investment. For these operators, it makes commercial sense to cash in on the market and re-invest elsewhere. We also expect the EV market to continue to make headlines as it pushes its way through infancy, although we don’t see this ašecting traditional fuel retailing in the foreseeable future.

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053_PRA_2020.indd 1 12/12/2019 15:35 BUSINESS Market Review 2020 LEGAL UPDATE Motor Industry Legal Services (MILS) rounds up the legislation currently aecting the petrol retail industry

EMPLOYMENT LAW contract and what terms were agreed There have been some useful at the beginning of the contract? It is a clarications this year regarding basic principle of contract law that only employers’ responsibilities. terms incorporated into the contract can • The courts and tribunals have grappled apply. If you were specically told about with the balance between surveillance the fees to be paid by customers, then of employees and the right under this may form part of the contract and Article 8 of the European Convention can become a term that you can hold on Human Rights to private life. In service providers to. a recent development, the European That said, more often than not the Court of Human Rights, in López contract will include terms that allow Ribalda and others v Spain, held that the service provider to amend fees covert surveillance of employees under during the contract. It is very important suspicion of theft did not breach Article therefore that you read and understand 8. However, covert recording should contractual terms before signing them always be the exception rather than the or acting under the contract. rule, but the case gives some support for Where you agree to a contract as a employers in such circumstances. business, the courts will assume that • Employers are required to issue a you have read and intend to be bound by statement of particulars of employment Data used in not managed correctly. This includes any terms signed. newsletters to employees within two months needs to be whenever you are collecting, organising, It is not unusual for any service of them starting and there can be managed structuring, storing an individual’s email contracts to be used to draw business correctly an increase in compensation (s38 address – such as when sending out to the site. If this is the case, they can Employment Act 2002) in a tribunal if an group emails. be an important tool. Make sure this employer doesn’t do so. Data subjects email addresses should is highlighted in the contract. If the Will an employer who provides a written not be visible to other recipients without free provision of services is important, statement of particulars of employment their informed consent. There have been make this a condition of agreeing to the late, but before a case begins in the a number of high prole incidents of a installation of any equipment, as without tribunal, have any award increased group of recipients being “CC’d” onto an this, it is unlikely that you will have any under s38 of the Employment Act 2002? email and therefore having details fully say on how such services are run. Check No, held the EAT in Govdata Ltd v disclosed. all contractual terms before reaching an The e”ect of any disclosure as above agreement, as prevention is better than will depend on the nature of the email cure. “Check all contractual sent. While it is unlikely that any breach Please note: any advice contained will contain signicant data, any breach here is general in nature and will need terms before reaching an will risk at least a reputational loss. to be tailored to any one particular We, therefore, strongly advise situation. As an RMI member you have agreement. Prevention is that any such group emails be either access to the RMI Legal Advice line, as better than cure” disseminated individually or through well as a number of industry experts for measures that obscure the identity of your assistance. Should you nd yourself other recipients such as BCC or blind in the situation above, contact us at Denton. The case is welcome news for courtesy/carbon copy. any stage for advice and assistance as employers, as it assists clarication of appropriate. terms between both parties. CONTRACTS Over the last year, with the reduction COMMERCIAL LAW in the LINK fees, members have seen Newsletters are a common tool for an increase in the pressures on the businesses to stay in touch with their provision of cash and other services •Motor Industry Legal Services (MILS) provides fully comprehensive legal advice customers and add value to any o”ering. from their forecourts. So, what can and representation to UK motor retailers for one annual fee. It is the only law firm in the Normally, these are a relatively low-risk be done when your service providers UK which specialises in motor law and motor activity. However, they also represent threaten to increase fees for your trade law. MILS currently advises over 1,000 individual businesses within the sector as well a risk to the business if the data used customers? as the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) in their creation and distribution is Firstly, were you told about the and its members.

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Shelving • Refrigeration • Joinery • Ceilings Flooring • Lighting • Air Conditioning • Electrics www.shop-mate.co.uk

Introducing

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To discover more about joining our expanding retail network, call us on +44 (0)151 350 4003 or email: [email protected] essar.co.uk

055_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 15:03 2020 Advertisement feature The devil is in the detail Your fuel margins are in the data

hink of your smartphone. When was the last time you carried with you a digital camera, a calculator, a Walkman, Tletters, an alarm clock, a whole set of encyclopaedias’ and a phone? They haven’t lost their use over time, as they lie at the very core of our day to day activities - they’ve just gone digital, in a single place. As a forecourt retailer, you have thousands of data points running through your site daily as every for it, Edge customers have said the opportunities lost in the millions of purchase is captured and stored on following: lines of data. Find them and run with the PoS and back offi ce with details “EdgePetrol has totally changed the them and never leave a penny on the on grades, prices, shop sales, pump way I work; I’ve moved away from table. numbers and card types. Data exists using spreadsheets entirely!” Paul from your suppliers in cost prices Harrison, Steeles of Worthing, 1 site on Bringing the market together and delivery schedules. You may even EdgePetrol. We learned that our clients are creative collect your own competitor data on “ I use EdgePetrol every single day in using the EdgePetrol insights in the ‘morning moped’ pricing run. Or as it gives me an excellent insight tailoring their strategy to the local maybe you use other data providers on volume, margins, profi t as well markets. Since they are all bound by such as Experian Catalist. Similar to as trends. In addition, it helps me different geographic and customer the smartphone, EdgePetrol brought set a pricing strategy against our segmentations, we organised the all these data sources in one place, competitors, and because I can see my EdgeForum, an event that enabled to feed your profi t-making decisions: blended margin in my tank and how them to exchange best practices and pricing and ordering. We calculate it compares to margin on new fuel challenge each other. automatically and in real time the orders it helps me optimise my pump blended cost of your fuel, the impact price. It is a great piece of software Increased market transparency of fuel cards, volume forecast and that gives you a great overall picture of We are now processing 1,706 litres of bunkering. our business.” Rob Malek, Roundswell fuel per minute across over 500 sites Services, 1 site on EdgePetrol. in the UK. Not only we are bringing The detail The complexities of running a station retailers more real-time visibility of Without being able to simplify your data increase exponentially with the size of their own data, we are also bringing it is very diffi cult to understand what the portfolio. This is why many of our them visibility of the market. Our the numbers are telling you. A better clients are multiple site operators who clients can choose to allow other understanding of your portfolio enables need a helicopter view of the entire Edge users in their area to view their retailers to set better strategies, on a business. live prices in exchange for the same region by region or site by site basis, to “Ensuring we fully understand information from their counterparts. hit their business goals - whether they the correct actual fuel margin across Interestingly enough, countries like are volume, margin, overall profi ts or the group can be a real challenge. Spain, Austria or the Netherlands site valuations. EdgePetrol is now a core tool in our mandate retailers to publicly announce business. By having real-time visibility their most recent prices on government What difference does data make? of all our sites and their live blended platforms. This has not lead to any Customers who joined Edge before June margins, we are able to take collusion, margin erosion or anti- 2018 have seen an average more effi cient competitive issues. In the UK, following year-on-year profi t decisions your nearby competition is a daily increase of over 24% to regarding struggle when it shouldn’t be. June 2019. Edge hasn’t pricing and fuel made any decisions for ordering.” Tony them. This is driven Head from Get in touch on +44 203 865 8689 by their experience and Highway Stops, or [email protected] , we decision making, but 11 sites on would love to hear from you! with better tools at their Edge. disposal to do so. Don’t Edgepetrol.com Don’t just take our word leave the 56

056_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 14:58 Bring clarity to every question, decision or action.

You know your sites better than anyone. EdgePetrol provides you with live and actionable insight to help you make the most of your knowledge.

edgepetrol.com +44 203 865 8689

057_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 14:57 2020 Advertisement feature From Litres to Electrons Demand for Electric Vehicles is at an all-time high, but until charging up feels like refuelling, will we see mass adoption?

t is no longer a question of ‘if’, but EVs hitting the market are all capable operators from committing to installing ‘when’. The transition to e-mobility of accepting higher charging powers EV points in close proximity as they will is upon us and is being driven not than ever before with Mercedes-Benz, be competing from day one by halving by a host of EV charging companies, Audi, JLR and VW all releasing models their possible utilisation. Ibut by Governments, vehicle capable of accepting at least 150kW. With a fully funded solution, EVN manufacturers, and a new generation of can help forecourt owners achieve their the public demanding lower emissions Understanding Grid Capacity electrifi cation goals, no matter how and a cleaner, greener environment. The rise of EVs will require forecourt ambitious they are. This isn’t just happening in the UK, owners to change the way they assess countries across the globe are doubling their property strategy. In order to The roles of the forecourt owner down on e-mobility to solve the accommodate multiple chargers on a Some of the key issues faced by emissions crisis arising from transport. single location, it will be certain that forecourt owners in transitioning to EV Norway for example has committed there will not be any spare electrical charging include understanding both to sales of new cars, urban buses and capacity, so a new grid connection of utilisation, energy price risk and the light commercial vehicles to be zero between 1-1.5MVA will be required with responsibility for the daily operations emissions by 2025, and in 2019 vehicle a new substation on-site. Bringing this required to support the charging manufacturers committed $225 billion signifi cant level of power to a site can network. Forecourt owners must decide to electrifi cation in the coming years. range anywhere between £25k to £4 their role when it comes to managing So, with the UK setting a similar target million depending on the proximity the EV charging infrastructure. Options for 2040, we must ask can we do more? of the site to the spare capacity in the include: Petrol forecourt owners are a key player network. • Landlord only - receive long term in accelerating the biggest change to our rental income for leasing out parking transport system in the last 100 years spaces to a Charge Point Operator but are faced with several key issues “350kW high- (CPO) in electrifying their portfolios. The EV • Landlord Plus – receive a smaller Network (EVN) is well positioned to powered charging rental payment and take a share of assist forecourt owners in championing the profi ts from the CPO their own transition to electrifi cation • Charge Point Operator – take the without taking on all the risk. enables 120 miles utilisation risk in the short term, whilst establishing your brand and The Importance of Futureproofi ng of range to be location for the future One of the key issues facing forecourt • Asset Owner and Charge Point owners in providing EV charging is added in just 8 Operator – invest directly in your the choice of technology. The rapid forecourt take asset responsibility evolution of EV technology has left minutes” and utilisation risk. many concerned about committing signifi cant capital to equipment that could be obsolete in under 5 years. EVN can work with forecourt owners EVN has the knowledge and EVN’s core focus is on high-powered to assess their property portfolio from experience to work with forecourt (350kW) charging enabling around 120 an electrical point of view and develop a owners to develop their own EV miles of range to be added to a vehicle deliverable EV strategy. charging strategy. Once defi ned, in just 8 minutes, bringing EV drivers closer to the experience of re-fuelling First Mover Advantage The EV Network can support with litres. The EV boom is well and truly upon the forecourt owner to execute These chargers are compatible with us and forecourt owners must decide their strategy including access all current, and future EVs. When a now whether they want to be a leader or to our supply chain, funding and driver plugs in, the car and the charger a laggard. The ‘wait and see’ approach secure one of our 6 Charge Point communicate and determine the is a dangerous game to play. Required Operators we are working with, maximum charging power that vehicle total investment to electrify a location who between them operate over can accept. Whilst there is only one EV with multiple 350kW chargers can 15,000 charge points across (Porsche Taycan) capable of accepting range between £400k to £500k making Europe. anything close to 350kW, installing this fi rst mover advantage invaluable to technology today futureproofs a location a forecourt owner. Putting your fl ag Sam Shaybani, for at least the next 10 years after in the ground today and announcing Co-Founder & Director which EVN will refresh the charging yourself as a serious player in EV [email protected] hardware. Over the next few years, the charging will warn off other forecourt 58

058_PRA_2020.indd 1 13/12/2019 12:27 pm 059_PRA_2020.indd 1 13/12/2019 12:20 pm RETAIL Market Review 2020 WOOLMER WINNER

The Garner Group made it a double, winning Forecourt Trader of the Year for the second time in just ve years

ou should have seen the look on the Garner family’s faces when Ytheir Woolmer Service Station was named as the overall Forecourt Trader of the Year winner for 2019. “You only had to see our faces to see what a terric shock it was,” explains Tim Garner. “But it was a great shock in that a small family business like ours could win the top accolade in our sector.” Pictured, right: Andy There was a sense of déjà vu in the and Dani Garner Garners’ big win as the family had receiving their Forecourt Trader of previously won Forecourt Trader’s top the Year Award accolade in 2014 for its Portsbridge Service Station in Cosham, Portsmouth. a separate pump for red diesel to appeal The fascia includes the Nisa Local They since sold that award-winning site to agricultural, construction and boating logo but also the Garner name. There to help nance the redevelopment of the customers. The size and shape of the is also a sign that says the site is family Woolmer site in Bordon, Hampshire. site didn’t allow for car washing however owned. Back in 1984, the Garners opened – anyone wishing to wash their vehicle Today the business is run by Tim and Woolmer Service Station as a new-to- is directed to the Garners’ other site at his brother Mike, alongside Tim’s son industry site. It traded successfully for Bordon. Andy and Mike’s daughter Dani, as well years but as the area changed (new However, it is the shop exterior that as Tim’s wife Elspeth. housing, schools etc.) so the site really stands out – looking worthy of a Tim says that before Dani and Andy needed to change too. In 2018, the design award thanks to use of a mix of became involved they didn’t make much Garners totally demolished the forecourt cedar wood and grey material. of the Garner name and they certainly and store and after seven months it didn’t put it up above the door. re-opened, in March 2019, with a more “Our customers will “Dani and Andy said that it was the modern forecourt and much bigger right thing to do, to show that this is (2,000sq ft) Nisa/Co-op convenience often see us working at not a site run by a big corporation but store. instead it is run by a small family that’s The forecourt is functional thanks to the till or doing things been associated with the area since the its Shell fuel, smart Shell canopy, plenty 1980s,” he adds. of car parking spaces, EV charging plus around the shop” The stunning shop exterior leads to

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Forecourt Trader Magazine Trader of Forecourt Courtesy PHOTOS: Amazon lockers. The forecourt also has an equally impressive interior. ▹

60 www.ukpra.co.uk LEGAL SPECIALISTS TO THE PETROL RETAILERS Solicitors

There are many factors that help make your business a success. One of these is getting good quality legal support. The advice you need will range across the whole of your operation - from what to do about your property, to handling licence applications. Winckworth Sherwood’s lawyers have vast experience in the petrol forecourt and convenience sectors. Whether you operate a single store or a chain of outlets, we can help you with:

• Property acquisitions/disposals • Occupational leases/licences • Company share acquisitions/disposals • Guidance on commercial contracts • Alcohol licence applications • Late night refreshment licence applications For further information, please contact Robert Botkai, • Advice on franchise/dealer agreements • Support with employment contracts and disputes Head of Commercial Real Estate and Licensing: • Managing dispute resolution T. 020 7593 5004 | E. [email protected] • Electric vehicle recharging apparatus contracts www.wslaw.co.uk

ACCELERATE THE CUSTOMER JOURNEY

061_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 15:05 RETAIL Market Review 2020

▹ Tim says that although Nisa had a Cook frozen ready meals, a Swan programme and through the PRA’s new concept store, it gave the Garners Bakery section and a great o-licence training scheme. the exibility to put their own mark on it. department with lots of chilled wines Tim says sta go out of their way He adds that they got their inspiration and beers as well as labelling to help to help customers: from ordering in for the new site by going out on customers decide what wine to buy. products requested by them, to assisting the road, looking at good sites and The site may look good but there with shopping or fuel. convenience stores and cherry picking is more to it than just those looks. It And the Garners like to engage ideas from them. features a thermally insulated steel outside of the store – through marketing Once inside, customers are met with building, LED lighting, industry-leading channels such as social media, leaets an open-style ceiling, halo lights and pumps and software, and EV charge and dedicated internal and external wood-eect ooring. And there’s plenty points – the Garners say everything media screens. of space to show o the good range has been designed to minimise their Indeed, they highlighted their win on of Nisa and Co-op-branded products, environmental impact. the media screens at the pumps and freshly prepared hot and cold food- Says Tim: “We spent many months with signs inside the shop. to-go, two Costa Express machines, Žnessing the layout and design of each The family takes its role in the element of the site, to make the best community seriously. It raises funds for use of every millimetre of space and local causes as part of Nisa’s ‘Making a “Ultimately our provide an outstanding experience for Dierence Locally’ initiative. our customers. Ultimately our success “We are raising funds for two local success depends on depends on our customers, so a charities through products sold in-store personal touch and customer service and we also sponsor two local junior our customers, so a are vital.” football teams, who proudly display our personal touch and Tim believes much of the family Žrm’s logo on their match kit,” says Tim. success is down to the fact that they are Although at the time of writing the customer service so hands-on: “Our customers will often redeveloped site had only been up and see us working at the till or doing things running for eight months, Tim says they are vital” around the shop. We respect our sta will shortly be evaluating it, particularly and work with them and we like to be the range, to see what is working, what able to give our business the personal is not and then will tweak it accordingly. touch.” But that said, they are delighted with The Garners have employed two how it is all going. assistant managers at Woolmer And as for the future, Tim says: “We and created six new jobs, bringing are always looking – it could be another the current sta total to 20. All sta forecourt or a convenience store but undertake regular training in-house, there’s nothing concrete at the moment. through Nisa’s Retail Academy training Watch this space…”

The Garner family spent months ‘nessing’ the layout and design of the site PHOTOS: Courtesy of Forecourt Trader Magazine Trader of Forecourt Courtesy PHOTOS:

62 www.ukpra.co.uk Is your site ready to oer Electric Vehicle Charging?

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063_PRA_2020.indd 1 11/12/2019 14:21 A Brand New Gulf

We have revitalised our forecourt image for today’s marketplace. This modern, fresh and eye-catching look is designed to widen the appeal of our forecourts, attracting new customers and helping our Retailers increase visibility at all times of the day.

Contact your local Area Manager Call 0345 456 6300 gulfoil.co.uk/retail

064_PRA_2020.indd 1 16/12/2019 10:51 am