Shell/RWE: if you can't beat them.

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BP: shedding stations

Tough conditions in Hungary and Slovakia have prompted BP to shed its newly acquired Aral service stations in these countries. Although it has also sold two stations in Poland to Jet, BP is adamant it will remain in this market. Staying would be wise: the company has a good position as the largest foreign player, and has identified more attractive prospects.

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BP: PKN buys sites in northern Germany

BP has escaped part of a potential write down on its Veba acquisition. Regulators demanded that the oil major shed 5% of its retail market share and a refinery stake - failure to find buyers would entail costly site closures for BP. PKN will struggle to realize short-term value, but could benefit from a downstream upturn.

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Eastern European Retail: foreign chains rattle the small shopkeepers

The new Polish government of the conservative Law and Justice party has promised to examine the encroachment of hypermarkets into the country's retail sector. However, an element of political calculation is thought to be involved in this: while about 100,000 people are employed in large stores, the retail sector as a whole employs more than 2 million, mainly in small independent shops.

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The gloves are off in central European fuel retail

Rapid network expansion and upstream muscle are the unstoppable forces pushing Lukoil to the fore of fuel retailing in central and eastern Europe (CEE). The firm is the key mover in the region, expanding its site presence by a remarkable 180% over the past three years. But selling petrol is not simply a numbers game: Lukoil is also successfully incorporating a strong shop proposition.

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Tesco: expanding further into "new Europe"

UK grocery retailer Tesco is rumored to be considering a bid for the Polish operations of troubled French supermarket chain Casino. This will provide Tesco with a larger share of the Polish market and provide Casino with the resources to embark on areas that can benefit the business.

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PKN Orlen: braving the Baltics

PKN Orlen has begun outlining its retail intentions for the Baltic region as it moves closer to the official acquisition of Lithuanian refinery Mazeikiu Nafta. While this deal gives PKN access to much-needed upstream assets, its lack of retail presence means it will have a lot of work do to if it intends to grow organically in markets where the likes of Lukoil and Statoil are firmly established.

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Lukoil: downstream focus gathers pace

Leading Russian oil producer Lukoil has entered into talks with ConocoPhillips to acquire some 380 filling stations under the Jet brand. This move illustrates the fact that, while the US giant begins a huge divesture program to fund upstream investments, Lukoil is heading downstream with a vengeance.

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PKN Orlen/Lukoil: clash of the great eastern European fuel retailing titans

Polish oil giant PKN Orlen is beginning to flex its muscles on the eastern European service station market. Most recently, it has been reported that the company is seeking to purchase the Esso petrol network in the Czech Republic from ExxonMobil. However, PKN Orlen's plans are likely to clash with those of Lukoil, which has also been expanding aggressively in this region.

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Carpetright: progress on all fronts

For the 52 weeks to 28 April, 2007, Carpetright's sales rose by 5.4%, while profits increased by 5.1%. The retailer continues to grow sales in a declining domestic market, while its fledgling European operations represent a good opportunity for future growth.

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