Retail Marketing Survey 2017

The 2017 issue of the Retail Marketing Survey supplement suggests that the UK fuel retail sector has turned a corner, with the long-term trend of forecourt closures stabilising at 8,489 sites operating at the close of 2016, compared to 8,472 sites in 2015 and 8,609 in 2014. 

BP continues to lead the forecourt branding field, topping the listing with 1,278 outlets in operation at the close of 2016 (the same as in 2015); followed by Esso, Shell, Texaco, and Gulf. Tesco leads the supermarket brands, with 504 sites, followed by Morrisons, Sainsbury's, and Asda. The small and unbranded sector, which makes up the balance of the UK network, numbered 710 by year-end. 

The supermarket sector continues to hold the leading market share - some 44%, with dealer sites holding 38% and company sites the remaining 18%. 

Fuel prices fell from an average of 111.79 p/l in 2015 to 109.78 p/l in 2016, and from 115.04 p/l for diesel to 110.52 p/l. Meanwhile, total road fuel sales for the year were 36.56mn tonnes, slightly lower than 2015's 37.29mn tonnes. 

Registered UK vehicle sales continued their record breaking trend, to reach 36.5mn vehicles on the roads by the close of 2016, compared to 35.93mn a year earlier. Each forecourt supplied an average of 4,300 vehicles in 2016.

Moving to our editorial features, we look at how the UK's independent forecourt operators have been adapting in response to an ever-changing fuel retail market and also at some of the ways in which these market changes are influencing dealer expectations of their fuel suppliers. The supplement also highlights some of the key challenges facing forecourt c-store operators in the year ahead and notes a call for the fuel supply chain to work with consumers to ensure 'a fair price for all'. We also review the work of the Energy Institute's Service Station Panel, which develops guidance reflecting good industry practice for the fuel retail sector, both in the UK and internationally. 

Kim Jackson, Editor