Half of all forecourt transactions are now retail-only, as the convenience sector continues to grow, fuelled by changing consumer demands.

During lockdown customers were buying 20% more at bp forecourt stores and this trend continues as the forecourt becomes an integral part of the community

The figures, revealed by BP as it announces its latest partnership with M&S Food, indicate that people are seeing the forecourt increasingly as a retail destination. Behaviour is changing as people shop little and more often and top up at convenience stores, supported by the growing trend for delivered food.

Based on Euromonitor analysis, in 45 of the leading economies of the world, convenience is expected to nearly double by 2030, growing at more than 5% a year.

The trend has been accelerated by the pandemic. During lockdown, customers were buying 20% more at BP forecourt stores and this trend continues as the forecourt becomes an integral part of the community, particularly with a brand such as M&S.

BP and M&S have now agreed to extend their convenience agreement until 2030, aiming to build on the success of their 16-year collaboration and work together to evolve the forecourt offer as customers’ behaviour changes over the next decade.

The pair first teamed up in 2005 to introduce M&S Food stores at BP retail sites in Great Britain, offering a tailored curated range of fresh quality food for the customer on the move.

M&S Food is now available at almost 300 BP-operated sites across Great Britain and since 2005, BP customers have bought 14 million packets of Percy Pigs and 25 million bottles of wine. And in the last three years alone, 28 million bottles of milk and 22 million loaves of bread have been sold.

Alex Jensen, BP’s senior vice president for mobility and convenience, Europe and Southern Africa, said: “Of course, our sites provide advanced fuels, but our customers also want high-quality healthy food options, for now and for later. And they also want increasingly convenient ways to buy that fit in with their busy lifestyles.

“BP’s partnership with M&S Food has led the way in the UK and we aim to continue to innovate and grow to meet our customers’ needs.”