Retail Marketing Survey 2012

This year’s survey, cross-referenced with numbers supplied by market analyst Experian Catalist, shows that the number of forecourts in the UK has once again fallen, to just 8,480 sites. The oil company branded fuel retailers remain the largest grouping in the UK forecourt sector, with 5,310 outlets selling under the seven main UK brands. Two of the operators opened new outlets – BP (+4) and Murco (+17). Meanwhile, the others closed or sold on a number of sites – Esso 34, Shell 41, Texaco 57, Total 51 and Jet 47 (see table p2 and article p18).

The main retailer sector comprises 11 companies or groups, operating a total of 906 sites (see p4). The three largest brandings are Gulf 307) and Pace (131), both supplied by GB Oils, and Maxol (100) (see p4). Meanwhile, the supermarkets have continued to expand their network, to 1,316 outlets in total (see p5).

The nine companies that make up the other retailers category (those with 12 or less sites) closed just eight forecourts in 2010 (see p6). The small and unbranded sector, which makes up the balance of the UK network, continued to battle tough trading conditions, closing a further 41 outlets (see p6), to number 885 by year-end.

Fuel prices increased significantly in 2010, rising from an average of 117.16 p/l for petrol in 2010 to 133.60 p/l in 2011, and from 119.51 p/l for diesel to 138.90 p/l (see p12). Meanwhile, petrol sales fell to 13.86mn tonnes by year-end; while diesel sales increased slightly to reach 13.91mn tonnes (see p14). Total 2011 road fuel sales fell slightly on the year, to 35.61mn tonnes.

Registered UK vehicles rose once again in 2011, to reach 34.7mn, with each forecourt supplying an average of 4,088 vehicles.