Certas Energy has reached agreement with Bestway Wholesale to be a preferred retail partner across its independent, Gulf and Pace-branded sites.

The new agreement will see current and new sites being introduced to Bestway’s Best-one Symbol, Xtra local Retail Club and depot network as a group retail partner of choice.

Certas delivers more than 6 billion litres of fuel each year in the UK and supplies 1,200 dealer operated forecourts, along with their company owned sites, across the UK.

James Hall, symbol development director for Bestway Wholesale said: “Certas and Bestway are the perfect fit. Not only do we share the same vision regarding the importance of convenience retailing in modern forecourts but there are similar values that underpin both companies: working collaboratively, transparency, value driven and supporting the communities in which we operate. I believe that we can add significant value to its retail partners - big and small, single or multisite - with our flexible approach and expertise within the convenience sector.”

Hall also points out that while forecourts do the Food to Go offer much better than the majority of convenience stores (77% of forecourts have a coffee station compare to only 17% in convenience) there is significant headroom for growth in other shopper missions in convenience such as top-up and tea for tonight where they underperform their convenience competition.

Certas Energy retail director Ramsay MacDonald commented: “The fantastic thing about partnering with Bestway is the company has a retail offer for all of our customers from Cash and Carry right through to the full service Best-one symbol offer. Forecourts account for 9% of sales in the total UK convenience sector and we are committed to driving the convenience offer through our Gulf and Pace forecourt dealer networks. With Certas Energy fuel expertise combined with Bestway’s retail capability and convenience offer, I believe that together we possess a compelling offer for dealers to achieve incremental and sustainable growth.”