Forecourt retailers are giving their businesses the edge by working closely with suppliers and tapping into retail and fuel trends.
With the warm weather creating additional demand, forecourt operators with a compelling retail offer and strong supplier partnerships are set to benefit.
One forecourt retailer making the most of the opportunity is Ayrshire-based Brian Connolly, owner of SLR Forecourt of the Year finalist Londis Ayr Rd Service Station in Dalmellington and Jet Maybole forecourt, which has a Spar store.
“We’ve just invested in several food-to-go machines at Dalmellington for slushies and milkshakes,” says Brian. “We’re always looking to capitalise whenever there’s a trend. We maximise the shops as much as we can and we’ve got Wash.ME washing machines at both sites.”
Customers feeling the heat can also seek chilled refreshment from the store’s beer cave, which was introduced as part of a major refit whereby the store was extended into an old workshop.
Brian is keen to invest further but is being held back by rising non-domestic rates and energy costs. However, thanks to his business nous, both sites are holding their own and he is full of praise for Jet, which he claims is “a great company to work with”.
Jet has recently grown its Scottish footprint with two newly branded ex-Gleaner sites, both of which are now supplied by authorised Jet-branded retail distributor Highland Fuels.
Buccaneer Fuels adopted Jet branding after purchasing Drum of Wartle Filling Station on the A920 near Inverurie earlier this year. The site has been transformed with a larger Premier convenience store and now serves both local residents and passing motorists with an improved shopping and food-to-go offer.
ShopMate’s Payments and Forecourt Specialist, Paul McIntosh, has spent almost three decades supporting retailers across the UK and Ireland, working with thousands of sites throughout his career.
He claims that payment technology has become a critical part of the forecourt retail experience and that one of the biggest advantages of integrated payments is the time they save retailers.
“Integrated payments reduce keying errors, speed up transactions and make reconciliation much clearer and more accurate,” he explains.
For customers, the benefits are equally important. Faster transactions mean shorter queues and a smoother checkout experience. As cash usage continues to decline, customers increasingly expect quick, convenient card and contactless payments.
Store teams benefit too. Less cash handling means reduced security risks, fewer banking charges and less time spent managing cash throughout the day.
When choosing a payment partner, McIntosh encourages retailers to look beyond headline rates and focus on the overall service they will receive.
“The ability to integrate with your EPoS system is essential,” he says. “Retailers should also look for strong support, transparent pricing and a provider willing to review their current arrangements honestly.”
Having someone who can scrutinise an existing payment setup and clearly explain the alternatives can help retailers avoid hidden costs and make better long-term decisions.
Modern payment systems provide far more than transaction processing. Access to online portals and mobile apps can give retailers real-time visibility of transactions, settlements and cash flow. This level of reporting helps business owners stay informed and make faster decisions.
“Being able to monitor transactions and understand cash flow is incredibly important for modern retailers,” he says.
Meanwhile, Colin White, Director of Craigellachie Filling Station, switched supplier due to “the importance of having a fuel supplier the site can depend on in a rural Speyside location”.
The site sits in the heart of Speyside’s whisky-producing region and features a large Londis shop, Costa Coffee, pay-at-the-pump for out-of-hours service, a modern car valet offer and a 50kW EV charger.
Ian Burgess, Retail Sales Representative at Highland Fuels, says: “What matters to us is helping each site make the most of what makes it distinctive, whether that is serving passing traffic on a key route, supporting a rural catchment or meeting the needs of both local residents and tourists.”
With these additions, there are now 50 Jet-branded sites in Scotland, 12 of which are supplied by Highland Fuels.
Down in South Wales, Gulf Ebbw Vale is aiming to attract more customers with its new Evolo rapid charge hub. With space for six vehicles, drivers can take advantage of rapid charging up to 150kW.
Gulf says charging on the go is made easier through contactless payment, app support and power backed by 100% renewable energy.
“This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to bring new energy to the road ahead,” says Gulf.
UK forecourts saw an 8% increase in tyre inflation equipment usage in March 2026, according to Air-serv, which has over 10,000 air, jet wash and vacuum machines installed across the nation.
“The increase suggests more drivers are turning to simple vehicle maintenance measures such as checking tyre pressures when motoring costs rise,” claims Air-serv.
“For forecourt operators, the findings highlight how customer behaviour shifts during periods of higher fuel prices, with increasing demand for on-site services that help motorists manage running costs a noticeable trend.”
Using the UK average petrol price for March 2026 from the UK Fuel Price Index, a 50-litre tank cost around £70.25. With TyreSafe estimating that tyres around 20% underinflated can increase fuel use by 3%, keeping tyres properly inflated could help motorists travel roughly 3% further on the same tank – equivalent to around 15 extra miles for a vehicle with a 500-mile range, states the firm.
Gordon Balmer, from the Petrol Retailers Association, says: “This is interesting data from Air-serv as it shows the message is starting to get across that correct tyre pressure and fuel economy go hand in hand.”
Richard Sweet, UK Sales and Marketing Director at Air-serv, adds: “The rise in air transactions during March shows how motorists respond when fuel prices increase. For forecourt operators, air machines become an even more valuable customer service touchpoint during these periods.”
