FORECOURT owners have slammed the tactics of big supermarkets in the current oil crisis, saying they have effectively left them “in the hands of terrorists”.
With some petrol stations now charging as much as £1 a litre after oil prices hit a record $42.33 a barrel, many believe closures are inevitable.
Mark Bradshaw, from independent forecourt group Garage Watch, accused supermarkets of “taking advantage” of the situation, by deliberately undercutting local rivals on petrol at a time when prices were high.
“The supermarkets prey on small retailers and take advantage of the situation, as they can subsidise garages with sales from their shops. It doesn’t do the industry any good at all,” said Bradshaw, who owns the Quatt Service Station in Shifnal, near Telford.
“Unfortunately, we are in the hands of the terrorists – they have forced the oil price up with just a couple of simple strikes.”
Ray Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailers Association, was also scathing of tactics used by big supermarkets, saying forecourt owners should concentrate on diversifying rather than fuel.
He said: “The economics are that the supermarkets using the petrol prices to promote the grocery store.
“They’ve been using this tactic for years and in doing so have destroyed literally thousands of small businesses.”
Budgens retailer Jonathan James, who owns four forecourts in East Anglia, said he had seen cash flow plummeting since the oil crisis began.
Mark Bradshaw, from independent forecourt group Garage Watch, accused supermarkets of “taking advantage” of the situation, by deliberately undercutting local rivals on petrol at a time when prices were high.
“The supermarkets prey on small retailers and take advantage of the situation, as they can subsidise garages with sales from their shops. It doesn’t do the industry any good at all,” said Bradshaw, who owns the Quatt Service Station in Shifnal, near Telford.
“Unfortunately, we are in the hands of the terrorists – they have forced the oil price up with just a couple of simple strikes.”
Ray Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailers Association, was also scathing of tactics used by big supermarkets, saying forecourt owners should concentrate on diversifying rather than fuel.
He said: “The economics are that the supermarkets using the petrol prices to promote the grocery store.
“They’ve been using this tactic for years and in doing so have destroyed literally thousands of small businesses.”
Budgens retailer Jonathan James, who owns four forecourts in East Anglia, said he had seen cash flow plummeting since the oil crisis began.
