New research from the Association of Convenience Stores has revealed the essential contribution that the UK's forecourts make to the economy, local communities and the people who live in them.
The 2018 Forecourt Report highlights the changing nature of forecourts as both retailers and service providers, as they adapt and evolve to meet consumer needs and technological challenges.
Key findings from the report include:
- There are currently 8,418 fuel forecourt sites in the UK, ranging from large convenience stores to small unmanned kiosks
- The forecourt sector provides almost 95,000 jobs for people throughout the UK
- Forecourt retailers generated over £4.1bn in sales over the last year
- Forecourt retailers have made significant investment into their stores over the last year, with £11,309 spent per store on average on improvements to the business
- Half of the UK’s forecourt sites are situated in rural areas, providing essential services to customers in otherwise isolated locations
The Forecourt Report brings together primary research conducted by ACS with other respected sources including Experian Catalist, Portland Fuel, Zap-Map, HIM, Nielsen, IGD and William Reed.
