The 2018 Forecourt Report has revealed the essential role that the UK's 8,418 forecourts play in the lives of consumers, the improvements that forecourts are making in their businesses, and the challenges they face in the future. The report details the investment that forecourt stores are making in improving their offering to customers through new technologies, more efficient refrigeration and a wider food offer, with over £11k invested per store on average. Other key findings from the report include: • 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 • There are 254 electric charging points located on 197 forecourts around the UK • Half of the UK’s forecourt sites are situated in rural areas, providing essential services to customers in otherwise isolated locations • 13% of forecourt store owners work more than 70 hours a week ACS chief executive, James Lowman said, “UK forecourts are an essential part of the grocery market, often introducing new products and technologies ahead of the rest of the convenience sector. However, forecourts face specific challenges such as the high cost of business rates, unpredictable rises and falls in the fuel price, and the ongoing debate about the future of electric charging infrastructure. “The £208m annual cost of business rates to the forecourt sector is an area that the Government needs to consider as part of an overall rebalancing of the rates system. The turnover based methodology for calculating rates for forecourts results in the sector paying significantly over the odds compared to other similar businesses that don’t sell fuel, and we have called on the Chancellor to address this in his Autumn Budget.” 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. (source: ACS, image: pexels)