The Penetration and Performance of Unmanned Sites in European Fuel Retailing

Table of Contents

• DATAMONITOR VIEW
  • CATALYST
  • SUMMARY
  • SOURCES
• ANALYSIS
  • There is a significant disparity among European markets in the penetration of unmanned sites into the fuel retailing network
    • The penetration of unmanned service stations into national refueling networks is highest in Switzerland and Scandinavia
    • Growth of unmanned sites is strongest in the UK, Estonia and Poland
    • Hydro Texaco and Avia have the highest numbers of unmanned service stations in Europe
    • In high growth unmanned markets, Neste and hypermarkets have been the principal drivers of growth
    • Across Europe, Avia, Q8, OK, Esso and Neste have added the largest numbers of unmanned sites to their networks
  • The factors behind the investment in unmanned networks differ between western and eastern European markets
    • In western Europe falling margins and fierce competition have prompted a number of retailers to expand their unmanned networks
    • New entrants to eastern Europe have directly replicated the Nordic model, pre-empting future market maturity
  • Market developments have made unmanned networks an increasingly feasible option for fuel retailers
    • European customers are making a growing proportion of their payments by card
    • The expansion of unmanned networks does not preclude strong shop sales
    • The Swiss market' s saturation suggests that the need to develop non-fuel sales will limit the growth in unmanned sites in mature markets
  • Despite the increasing feasibility of the unmanned site concept across Europe, growth in most western European markets will be limited
    • The unmanned forecourt concept has received a mixed reception in western Europe
    • Players in eastern Europe have strong intentions to expand their unmanned networks
• APPENDIX
  • Further reading
  • Notes
  • Ask the analyst
  • Datamonitor consulting
  • Disclaimer
  • List of Figures
    • Figure 1: Over 50% of service stations are of unmanned format in Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden
    • Figure 2: Unmanned service stations are growing at especially strong rates in the UK, Estonia and Poland
    • Figure 3: Across Europe, Hydro Texaco, Avia and OK have the most unmanned service stations
    • Figure 4: Neste added 37 unmanned sites to its network between 2004 and 2007
    • Figure 5: Avia increased the number of unmanned sites in its network by 161 between 2004 and 2007
    • Figure 6: There has been a substantial increase in card usage in Estonia
    • Figure 7: The value of shop items in the average customer basket in Sweden, Italy and Denmark is above the European average
    • Figure 8: Between 2004 and 2007, the proportion of sites in Switzerland that are unmanned fell from 55% to 53%