Pandemic reinforces importance of forecourt convenience, report shows

The new Lumina Intelligence UK Forecourt Market Report 2021 highlights the key missions that are driving shoppers to forecourts: Planned top-up (26%), food-to-go (16%), newsagent (11%), and distress top-up (9%).

The report identifies the most popular categories purchased on a planned mission as bakery (45%), chilled foods excluding milk (44%), fresh fruit and veg (35%), and tinned or packaged grocery (32%).

In addition, the research indicates that on average forecourt shoppers visit three times per week, purchase 3.7 items per visit, and spend £15.18.

The report also shows that forecourt shoppers are 51% more likely to distinguish between stores through an in-store bakery offer and 44% more likely through the choice of food-to-go, compared to convenience average.

Alice Dolling, insight lead at Lumina Intelligence, said: “Strict restrictions on movement and travel over the last year have severely impacted the forecourt sector and forced operators and retailers to adapt in order to generate sales and footfall. With fuel sales down, a forecourt’s convenience store offering has never been more important.

“Ranging should be targeting top-up missions through the expansion of ambient food ranges, whilst chilled ready meals are key to serving meal occasion missions as forecourt shoppers are more likely to be looking for quick and easy solutions.”