Exceeding consumer expectations through innovation

Retail’s Best Forecourt and Convenience Partners brings together influential operators and decision makers in motor fuel and retailing for an exceptional evening of networking and knowledge sharing.

Some 200 of the most influential independent convenience store owners and forecourt operators, representing around 3,500 sites between them, came together on 21 March at Chateau Impney, Worcestershire for the latest in the series of Retail’s Best events. Pioneering petrol dealers and retailers met with leading suppliers for an insightful evening of networking and knowledge sharing.

By retailers, for retailers

Retail’s Best is organised by entrepreneurial retailer and forecourt operator Moiz Vas: “When we launched in 2013, our vision was to create a series of unique and exclusive new business development networking events, put together ‘by retailers, for retailers’. This year’s instalment grew further and I was thrilled to talk to so many new retailers and suppliers and see some great innovations.

“We’ve seen some key developments in the UK convenience and forecourt sectors over the last 12 months, including a major brand entering the supply chain for EV charging as well as further consolidation of the forecourt sector with mergers and acquisitions. We’re in challenging, but exciting times.”

A ‘must attend’ event

Jonathan James, owner of James Retail, sums up the sentiments of many, saying: “In a very short time this has become a ‘must attend’ event in the industry calendar”.

Lead partners for this year’s event were Booker Retail Partners, BP Retail, BP Chargemaster and TLM Technologies, all participating for the first time.

Over the last six years, Retail’s Best has brought together many leading suppliers with hundreds of independent businesses in the world of food service, convenience retailing, motor fuel retailing and retail technology. This by-invitation-only business networking event is aimed at leading forecourt and convenience retailers who want to grow their businesses.

Full details can be found at www.retailsbest.co.uk.

People and technology

Disruptive technology came under the spotlight in the retailer-led panel discussion. Russell Fernandes, Relationship Director, NatWest, one of this year’s exclusive networkers, remarked: “The break-out group was very informative and particularly relevant given that most of the speakers were retailers speaking from their own experiences”.

Tackling the subject ‘People or Tech vs People and Tech’, the discussion was hosted by Michael O’Loughlin, Managing Director of, Motor Fuel Group (MFG). Says O’Loughlin: “The audience really engaged with the debate around where retailers should invest their money, concluding that it’s essential to invest in both people and technology in order to evolve our convenience businesses”.

The panel comprised award-winning and inspirational retailers Paul Delves, Managing Director, Delves and Co and Richard Inglis, Director, Parkview Retail with three Co-Operative stores in Hampshire. Plus, industry experts Toby Pickard, Head of Insight – Innovation and Futures, IGD and Enda McShane, CEO, Velocity Worldwide, working in partnership with M-Cube and Samsung Electronics.

Science fiction becomes science fact

Digital tools can enhance the customer experience, but won’t replace people, was the overarching message from some 200 of the most influential independent convenience store owners and forecourt operators, representing around 3,500 sites between them, when they came together for the latest in the series of Retail’s Best events.

Findings from a poll carried out by Retail’s Best, with questions formulated drawing on the expertise of research and training organisation IGD, confirmed that around half the retailers (46%) reported they would be splitting their investment this year 50:50 between people and technology. Further, 45% said that they were most interested in using technology to better understand their customers. This compared to 19% who wanted to use technology to improve stock management and 12% to reduce theft.

The poll also revealed that whilst only a handful of retailers said that their stores were already cashless, 53% said they wanted to go cashless in the next 2-5 years. Around half (48%) think that cashless stores sound interesting and a further 33% are convinced that they are the future of convenience retailing.

Moiz Vas, founder of Retail’s Best, explains: “I’m pleased that we’re addressing these issues now. We’re in challenging, but exciting times, and petrol dealers and convenience retailers must be equipped adequately to deal with the advent of change”.

Toby Pickard, Head of Insight – Innovation and Futures, IGD added: “Technology is undoubtedly changing the convenience and forecourt sector. Retail’s Best enabled some interesting discussions about trends that we’re seeing around the world, such as mobile payment and self-serve checkouts as well as some anecdotal stories from retailers who have introduced new checkout systems in their stores.”