Petrom: rationalization not expansion needed

Petrom has revealed that it has a budget of E110 million to invest in building new service stations and renovating existing sites. However, the greater focus should be on the renovations given the relatively low average throughput of Petrom's service stations at present.

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Rompetrol launches brand new name in French fuel retailing

Rompetrol has announced that it is to apply the Rompetrol brand to a French highway service station and plans to use it as a test case before further rollout of the name. This step is certainly prudent but, ultimately, the price of the fuel and the location of the chosen sites will be the core drivers of its retail success, with the brand having minimal bearing on motorists' decision to visit.

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Shell: using brand capital in Ukraine

Shell has signed a joint venture agreement with Alliance Group in Ukraine that continues the company's recent strategy of investing in high-growth retail markets through partnerships. This policy allows Shell to capitalize on its brand while minimizing investment; a prudent move should these growth markets experience the same competitive pressures currently affecting Shell in its western markets.

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European service stations: more advertising space should be devoted to fuel cards

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Alpha Airports: takeover heralds further consolidation

Alpha Airports has approved a GBP193.6 million takeover by Italy's Autogrill. Autogrill's proposed purchase of Alpha Airports follows a week of activity, which has seen fast-food operator Autogrill building up its stake in the UK-based airline services firm. The move will provide Alpha with necessary scale on a global level to compete in the fast-growing and consolidating airport services market.

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MOL: targeting Romania's wealthy with new forecourt concept

MOL Romania has begun a project to build restaurants at some of its busiest service stations. Providing customers with restaurants equipped with internet access should enable the MOL unit to gain an advantage over its competitors. Nevertheless, given the developing nature of Romania, MOL should tread carefully and focus its efforts on the wealthier and busier metropolitan areas of the country.

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Forecourt shops boost revenue, but fuel-only customers must be kept in mind

Fuel retailers' drive into convenience retailing is reaping rewards in many European markets. However, for around 50% of visits to European forecourt sites with shops, motorists leave with fuel but no extra purchases, suggesting that there may now be too many forecourt stores. Investment in shops should thus be made prudently, and convenient payment channels for 'fuel only' shoppers encouraged.

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BP forecourt concepts: food and drinks go healthy

UK oil major BP has re-launched its Wild Bean Cafe food and drink range. BP's move is in response to the evolving trends of consumers, who increasingly do not want to sacrifice health for convenience and indulgence. BP is attempting to adapt to these trends and, given the extent to which consumer tastes are changing, it is likely that more oil companies will follow suit.

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UK motorway service stations: quality improving through retailer alliances

A new report by UK motoring organization the AA claims that while UK motorway service stations are among the most expensive in Europe and suffer as a result of unmotivated staff and poor hygiene in eating areas and toilets, they are improving. This progress has largely come about through alliances with high street retailers.

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ExxonMobil: introducing pay at the pump technology

ExxonMobil hopes to install automatic payment technology at the pumps of all of its Esso-branded 'On the Run' petrol stations in the UK by the end of 2007. Given that over a third of forecourt shop visitors in the UK solely buy fuel, it is wise to encourage speedier transactions and visits, especially at the company's busiest sites.

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