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English Español UK: Supermarket fuel on almost every doorstep

Vast majority car-owning households within three miles of big four supermarkets



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Almost four fifths (78%) of households with a car or van now have a big four supermarket filling station on their doorstep, according to a new report by the RAC Foundation.

Of the 19.6 million homes in the UK that have access to a car or van 15.2 million are situated within three miles of at least one Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda or Morrisons fuel forecourt.

When the range is widened to five miles that figure rises to 17.3 million (88%). At ten miles it jumps to 19 million (97%).

According to Experian Catalyst and the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents independent forecourt owners,  there are currently 8,394 filling stations in the UK: 1, 562 sites at supermarket s(including sites away from a supermarket but which are owned and operated by them); 5,492 dealer sites; and 1,340 company owned.

Of the big four supermarkets, Tesco leads the way with 507 sites, followed by Morrisons (335), and Asda (321).

“It’s perhaps ironic that as supermarkets have gained a larger slice of the petrol and diesel market, more and more independent fuel retailers are becoming the new corner shop relying on their shop income to keep them afloat,” says Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation.

The PRA estimates that in the UK, supermarket sites account for approximately 49% of all petrol sold by volume and 43% of all diesel. The association says that 70% of independent filling stations that were operating in 2000 have now shut down.

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