- How many forecourt sites are there in the UK?
- Who owns and operates forecourt stores?
- Who are the forecourt retailers?
- How much is the forecourt convenience market worth?

How many forecourt sites are there in the UK?

There are currently approximately 9,283 forecourt sites in the UK

Forecourt site numbers. Source: Catalist/Energy Institute

Of these 9,283 forecourt sites, 8,641 feature a dedicated convenience store.

Who owns and operates forecourt stores?

The ownership and branding of forecourt stores is complex but broadly speaking fall into three areas

• Dealer-owned, Dealer Operated (DODO) - The forecourt is owned by an independent business, acting as a distributor for an oil company, which supplies fuel and-usually- a branding package.
   
• Company-Owned, Dealer-Operated (CODO) - The forecourt is owned by an oilco which also supplies the fuel but the site and store are operated by an independent business.
   
• Company Owned Company Operated (COCO) – The forecourt is owned by an oil company and operated by its employees according to instructions from Head Office, as with any other multiple retail business.
   
• Company Owned Group Operated (COGOP) - This is a similar model to CODO, with the key difference being that a group of stores are run by another independent company (rather than an independent dealer).

Who are the forecourt retailers?

Forecourt retailers and the number of stores they own are listed in the table below:

Source: IGD Research 2009

Since the 1970's, there has been a decline in the number of both forecourt sites and store numbers in the UK

However, over the course of the 2008 there was a continued interest in forecourt retailing, with a marginal increase in store numbers rather than a decline - the first time since the 1970s. This was driven by:

• New site development
• A number of previously mothballed sites being re-commissioned
• New operators entering the sector

While the number of company owned stores operated by the oil companies revealed a marginal decline, the number of stores operated by the supermarket groups increased by 2.9%. There has also been an increase in the number of symbol group stores on the forecourt, increasing by 8.1%,

Forecourt retailers are putting a greater focus on grocery sales in their stores as there is much opportunity for sales and profit within the convenience market.

As a result of this, 93% of forecourt stores are now classed as convenience stores.

How much is the forecourt convenience market worth?

There are 8,641 forecourt convenience stores in the UK and the market is currently worth £4.1 billion.

	Related Items on IGD.com: Factsheets: - Convenience Retailing Market Overview - UK Grocery Retailing - Symbol Group Retailing  Reports: - The Evolution of Convenience Retailing - UK Grocery Outlook 2009