Research and Markets: Forecourt Retailing Market Assessment 2012

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5tblrj/forecourt) has announced the addition of the "Forecourt Retailing Market Assessment 2012" report to their offering.

This Key Note Market Assessment analyses the forecourt retailing market, which is comprised of sales of fuel and non-fuel products from service stations. The industry has been influenced by a number of factors over recent years, including both economical and political issues, which have caused the market's value to fluctuate during the 6-year review period between 2006 and 2011.

In terms of the fuel market, sales dropped in 2009 due to the recession; there was a global slump in fuel prices, coupled with a reduction in volume sales as consumers limited their spending to essential items. Since this time, retail sales of fuel have risen; however, there remains some caution among consumers which has been influenced further by the recent news that the UK has entered another recession. With regard to fuel prices, the cost of crude oil and fuel duty are the largest influences on the price for consumers, both of which have generally been rising between 2010 and 2011. Both of these factors have helped to push the value of the fuel market up since 2009.

Sales of non-fuel items have similarly mirrored those of fuel; Key Note estimates that there was a decline in sales in 2009, however, the sector's value has increased since then. The dip in sales was due to the economic climate of the time, with factors that influence the market again mirroring fuel retailing; consumers reduced their expenditure on non-essential items, while fewer visits to forecourts reduced the number of sales, thereby also driving down the market's value.

With regard to the forecourt retailing marketplace, various retailers contribute to the overall market, including oil companies, main retail forecourts, supermarkets, other retailers and unbranded stations. In terms of market share, oil companies operate the largest number of sites in the UK, however, supermarkets have been increasing their share significantly over recent years. In addition, many fuel companies have formed alliances with existing retailers and brands, which has resulted in a number of partnerships in the industry that provide both fuel and non-fuel items through well-known and popular brands.

For this Market Assessment, Key Note commissioned exclusive research to be carried out by NEMS Market Research. The survey, carried out in May 2012, questioned 1,000 adults aged 16 and over on their fuel and non-fuel purchasing habits. A similar survey was also conducted in November 2009 and published in Key Note's previous edition of Forecourt Retailing. Where relevant, the data has been compared to offer insight into the changing purchasing habits of consumers between 2009 and 2011.

Companies Mentioned:

- BP Plc.

- Chevron Products UK Ltd

- ConocoPhillips Ltd

- Esso UK Ltd

- Murco Petroleum Ltd

- Shell UK Ltd

- Tesco Plc.

- Total UK Ltd

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5tblrj/forecourt