Top 50 Indie, Simon Smith Retail, has sold its award-winning Barnwood Budgens site in Gloucester.

The company received “an offer they couldn’t refuse” from BP/M&S Simply Food, director Susie Hawkins told Forecourt Trader. “It was a good deal for us and a good deal for them,” she said.

The site won the Forecourt Trader of the Year award in 2005. “A lot of people thought that, because of that win, Barnwood was our flagship site,” said Susie, “but it wasn’t.”

She was keen to confirm that the company was not “getting out of the industry”.

“For us it’s not about the numbers but that said, we are looking to replace the site,” Susie said.

The sale leaves the Cheltenham-based firm with six sites.