Forecourt retailers are continuing to invest in improving the breadth and depth of services that they offer to customers, new research reveals.
The 2023 Forecourt Report – published by the Association of Convenience Stores – shows services like free-to-use ATMs (39% of stores), click-and-collect services (31% of stores) and standalone parcel collection points (26% of stores) are some of the most popular.
The report also shows the commitment that forecourt retailers are making to improve the technology in their stores, with almost a third of those who are investing doing so in their till systems and EPoS platforms (31%), and 30% of those investing doing so through improving, expanding, and replacing refrigeration units in store.
ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “The best forecourt retailers often outperform their convenience counterparts on the impressive range of services and technology that they incorporate into their offer for customers. This has however been a challenging year for forecourts, with business rates costs and energy bills having an impact on overall investment. We urge the government to recognise the essential role that forecourts play in keeping their communities going.”
Key findings from this year’s Forecourt Report include:
- The UK forecourt sector creates over 89,000 jobs, with 25% being in the business for more than 10 years.
- The value of sales in the forecourt sector has reached £4.9bn in the past year (excluding fuel).
- 78% of forecourt retailers are active in their communities, raising money for local charities, getting involved with local projects, and donating to food banks.
- 21% of independent forecourt retailers take no days off throughout the year.
- Over the past year, independent forecourts have invested an average of around £11,700 in improving their stores.
One area of significant change highlighted by this year’s Forecourt Report is the UK’s move toward electric vehicles. Sales of new hybrid/electric vehicles are now outpacing petrol and diesel sales for the first time, with over 8,600 public charging points being added to the UK network.
Lowman added: “Forecourt retailers will undoubtedly have a role to play in an EV future, but we are not seeing a rush for all stores to put in charging points, as for many the value that a parking space currently provides for a customer who is coming in to shop outstrips the potential value of a charging point on the site.
“Around 8% of the forecourt sector now offers EV charging, and we expect steady growth in the future as forecourts establish themselves as one of several charging options for consumers.”
