Fuel for thought

Innovative food-to-go solutions and services are helping forecourt retailers boost footfall and sales.

By Gaelle Walker

With fuel prices already having soared in recent months, and warnings of further hikes to come over the summer, there’s little doubt that motorists are feeling the squeeze when it comes to filling up.

Fortunately for the UK’s legion of petrol retailers, who it’s important to note are also operating on tight margins, the forecourts of today are about so much more than petrol and diesel alone.

Despite the challenging conditions, forecourt operators across the country have been investing in new and improved facilities, services and in-store ranges in a bid to keep shoppers motoring to their sites.

With the jubilant return of the ‘on-the-go’ occasion, investment in food- and drink-to-go ranges has been a particular focus for many sites, which have bolstered their ranges with on-trend offers from big-name brands including Tango Ice Blast, Fwip, F’real, Costa Coffee and many more.

Demand for such offers is clear to see. According to hot-off-the-press MealTrak data, the number of out-of-home eating occasions was up 8% in the 12-weeks to 13 June, compared to the same period last year.

Forecourts were shown to be rebounding particularly well – with a 32% rise in occasions in the 12 weeks compared to 2021.

The food-to-go recovery, MealTrak said, was being driven by ‘staples’ and ‘treats’ such as cakes and pastries, sandwiches, breakfast foods and hot and cold drinks, which all showed growth of 20% year on year.

Fuel supply brand JET boasts a number of sites which have invested in such areas of late, including the JET Beacon Garage site in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, which recently re-opened after a complete Knock Down Re-Build.

Acting as a blue-print for future developments, the new-look site features new retail store with “excellent food-to-go facilities including Costa Coffee, F’Real milkshakes, Tango Ice Blast and the Spar Daily Deli”.

The site also features a new larger Jet Wash, air/water and vacuum for car valeting, AdBlue, and a free-to-use ATM. Electric vehicle charging points will be added in the coming months.

Forecourt operators seeking to invest in other footfall-boosting services over the coming months could also profit from a new partnership between Collect + and e-commerce marketplace Wish.

The deal, which comes amid a boom-time for e-commerce, will allow shoppers to click and collect Wish parcels from Collect+ retailers.

Commenting on the move, Nick Williams, Head of Strategic Partners and Product at PayPoint said: “This is an exciting opportunity for our retailers to partner with one of the world’s leading e-commerce platforms and further position themselves as indispensable service providers to their local communities.

“In the midst of surrounding economic uncertainty and cost-driven pressures facing retailers, from inflation to energy rates, I am extremely proud that we are able to continue adding value to their partnership with us by driving additional footfall and opportunities to earn additional revenue for their businesses.”