>> Visit the awards website for full information about this year’s awards

It’s launch time for the Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards 2010. The Awards are the showcase for the petrol retailing industry recognising and rewarding those businesses at the leading edge of their profession, that continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. The awards are a measure of the high operating standards and entrepreneurial skills demonstrated by petrol retailers nationwide, who set the standards to which others aspire.

Winning site

Do you think your site is a winner? Here’s why you should enter:

A cash prize of £3,000 for the winner of Forecourt Trader of the Year.

The chance to enjoy an all-expenses paid night out for you and a guest at the Las Vegas-themed awards dinner at the Park Lane Hilton in London, on September 22, 2010 including transport and overnight accommodation.

A great opportunity to network with friends, colleagues and like-minded retailers as well as oil company executives, suppliers and other key business contacts.

As a winner you are able to use the Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards logo in store and on marketing material to help impress your customers.

Winners in all categories also benefit from coverage and publicity in Forecourt Trader magazine and on our awards website www.forecourttraderawards.co.uk.

Open to all

Whether you are an independent dealer with a large chain, or a small rural site; an oil company franchisee in a main road location; or a manager on an oil company-owned site, there is a category for you.

The main retailer awards are based on location type and ownership status. Hence your site could be in one of the following locations:

  • Rural
  • Main Route
  • Neighbourhood
  • Motorway

Retailers are then categorised by their ownership status:

  • Independent dealer with up to nine sites
  • Independent dealer with 10 sites or more
  • Oil company/supermarket/wholesaler-owned and managed
  • Oil company-owned/franchisee, licensee, commission agent

The winner of each category will then go forward for the overall category title:

  • Best Rural site
  • Best Neighbourhood site
  • Best Main Route site

And regardless of ownership/location status there will be one award for

  • Best Motorway site

Finally, the coveted award for Forecourt Trader of the Year will be chosen from one of these four overall site winners.

Specialist categories

In addition to the main retailer awards, all retailers can submit entries for the following specialist categories:

  • Best Site with a Licence to sell Alcohol
  • Best Display of Chilled Food
  • Best Confectionery Outlet
  • Best Car Care and Lubricants Outlet
  • Best Crisps & Snacks Outlet
  • Best Customer Service
  • Best Eco-friendly Outlet
  • Best Food-to-Go Outlet
  • Best Forecourt Facilities
  • Best Hot Beverages Outlet
  • Best Soft Drinks Outlet
  • Best Tobacco Merchandising
  • Best Use of Retail Technology

How to enter

There are three ways to enter. You can either:

1) Call: the Forecourt Trader Awards hotline 01293 846587 to register for an entry form.

2) Email: helen.law@william-reed.co.uk

3) Visit: www.forecourttraderawards.co.uk to download an entry form. Send your completed entry form and photos to:

Helen Law, Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards 2010, William Reed Business Media, Broadfield Park, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 9RT.

Winning tips

Watch out for tips on how to be a winner in next month’s issue essential reading for those aiming for the top prize.

Sponsors

Our big thanks go to this year’s sponsors, without whom the awards would not be possible, particularly Palmer & Harvey, our principal sponsor. We would also like to welcome new sponsors Burger King and Dresser Wayne.

 


Past Award winners year

David Charman 1996

Robert Fraser1997

Hugh Fraser1998

Darren Lawrence1999

Graham Kennedy2000

John McCaffrey2001

Steven Blackadder2002

Jonathan & Rebecca James2003

Peter & Pat Bellini2004

Susie Hawkins2005

Karl Brocklehurst2006

Hugh & Robert Fraser2007

Philip & Lesley Tout2008

Patrick Sewell, David C-Jones2009


Richard Hayhoe

Does size really matter? It’s fantastic to see the continued development and sophistication of forecourt retailing. Many of the industry’s leading entrepreneurs continue to push the boundaries in pursuit of the ultimate retail offer striving to further improve choice, convenience and value.

The bar is rising as every new site opens, acquisition completes, or refit and refurbishment is relaunched.

Every year we are proud to honour those who champion that change at the Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards and continue to be overwhelmed by the progress and innovation over the previous 12 months.

In doing so, as we marvel at the new fixtures, fittings and technology that have been deployed; range development and diversity and the new fascias, it’s vital we don’t overlook the skill, resilience, commitment and salesmanship of the retailers themselves and the incredible level of service they offer 24/7.

A good retailer can deliver a great offer from a 40sq m kiosk and use their retail knowledge to make the range, space and service offer just right for their customers.

They can and do continue to grow sales and profits, loyalty and customer service, replacing access to financial backing and redevelopment budgets with local knowledge, strong retail experience and great people skills.

Understanding and interpreting customers’ needs and providing them with the product they want, when they want it, at a price which represents good value for money is all too often overlooked as great service itself.

There is room in the forecourt market for independent and mini-multiple to trade healthily alongside the major fuel operators and supermarkets, each providing a service most appropriate to its customers’ needs.

There is also room in our industry to recognise that being big, doesn’t always mean being the best.