Philip and Lesley Tout of Budgens Nailsea in Bristol were the Forecourt Trader of the Year winners last night at a glittering awards ceremony at the London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane. The evening was hosted by Shaun Williamson of Eastenders fame, and featured a James Bond theme with a lookalike Jaws, gold-painted girls and a ’Casino Royale’ complementing a great line-up of entertainment. It was attended by nearly 700 guests from the petrol retailing industry.

 

The Touts were presented with their award and a cheque for £3,000 by Forecourt Trader editor Merril Boulton, who described their Esso-branded forecourt as "a stunning site that raises the bar in terms of forecourt and store design".

She said: "Already a winner of the Best Forecourt Facilities category, the offering in-store is immaculately presented, and encompasses all the key elements of a modern-day forecourt convenience operation."

The presentation of the award was the climax of the awards ceremony which saw many retailers recognised for their achievements in the service station sector. The results are listed below, with more coverage due in Forecourt Trader’s October issue.

The main sponsor of the event was Palmer & Harvey McLane. The other category sponsors were American Express,Coca-Cola Enterprises, Convenience Distribution Group, Country Choice, Gilbarco Veeder – Root, Ginsters, Imperial Tobacco, Nestle Rowntree, Simply Coffee, Torex, Walkers and Walls.

FORECOURT TRADER AWARDS 2008

SPECIALIST PRODUCT CATEGORIES

BEST SITE WITH A LICENCE TO SELL ALCOHOL

 

 

Tracy McGuire from Shaw Petroleum, Huddersfield

BEST CAR CARE AND LUBRICANTS OUTLET

 

 

Michael Wass, Co-operative Group Alnwick, Northumberland

BEST DISPLAY OF CHILLED FOOD

 

 

Gary Brady, Spar Dundonald, Belfast

BEST CONFECTIONERY OUTLET

 

 

Farukh Rizvi, Roadchef MSA, M25 Clacket Lane North, Kent

BEST CRISPS AND SNACKS OUTLET

 

 

Asim Baig from Phoenix Filling Station, Glasgow

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

 

 

Andrew White from Spar Castlerock Road, Coleraine, Belfast

BEST FOOD-TO-GO OUTLET

 

 

David Hammond, Tates Spar Battlefield Service Station, Battlefield

BEST FORECOURT FACILITIES

 

 

Philip & Lesley Tout, Budgens Nailsea, Bristol

BEST HOT BEVERAGES OUTLET

 

 

Patrick Sewell, Chanterlands, Hull

BEST IMPULSE ICE CREAM OUTLET

 

 

Andrew White, Spar Castlerock Road, Coleraine, Belfast

BEST SOFT DRINKS OUTLET

 

 

Andrew Hattersley, Rossmore Service Station, Poole, Dorset

BEST TOBACCO MERCHANDISING

 

 

Patrick Sewell, Chanterlands, Hull

BEST USE OF RETAIL TECHNOLOGY

 

 

Raj Patel, Brookfields Morley Service Station, Leeds

 

 

RETAIL CATEGORIES

RURAL

OIL COMPANY/SUPERMARKET OWNED AND MANAGED SITE

 

 

Patsy Trolan, Trolans Supervalu Ballymoney, County Antrim

INDEPENDENT DEALER WITH UP TO NINE SITES

 

 

Conor McKibbin, Brennans Spar, Seaforde, County Down

BEST RURAL SITE OVERALL

 

 

Conor McKibbin, Brennans Spar, Seaforde, County Down

 

NEIGHBOURHOOD

OIL COMPANY/SUPERMARKET OWNED AND MANAGED

 

 

Gary Brady, Spar Dundonald, Belfast

OIL COMPANY-OWNED/FRANCHISEE, COMMISSION AGENT

 

 

Peter Woods, Murco / Costcutter, Canvey Island

INDEPENDENT DEALER, WITH UP TO NINE SITES

 

 

Philip & Lesley Tout, Budgens Nailsea, Bristol

INDEPENDENT DEALER – 10 SITES OR MORE

 

 

Patrick Sewell, Chanterlands, Hull

BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE OVERALL

 

 

Philip & Lesley Tout, Budgens Nailsea, Bristol

 

MAIN ROUTE

OIL COMPANY/SUPERMARKET OWNED AND MANAGED

 

David Hammond, Tates Spar Battlefield Service Station, Battlefield

OIL COMPANY-OWNED/FRANCHISEE, COMMISSION AGENT

 

 

Sivalingham Pragash, Murco / Costcutter, Wallasey

INDEPENDENT DEALER, WITH UP TO NINE SITES

 

 

Clive Gardner, BP Westacre, Salisbury

INDEPENDENT DEALER - 10 SITES OR MORE

 

 

Mark Carsley, Cromwell Services, Newark

BEST MAIN ROUTE SITE OVERALL

 

 

David Hammond, Tates Spar Battlefield Service Station, Battlefield

 

BEST MOTORWAY SITE

 

Rosemarie Egglesfield, Cardiff West Motorway Service Station, Pontyclun

 

 

OIL COMPANY INITIATIVE

HIGHLY COMMENDED

 

 

ConocoPhilips

WINNER

 

 

Gulf Retail

FORECOURT TRADER OF THE YEAR

 

Philip & Lesley Tout, Budgens Nailsea, Bristol