Last week I had the chance to see the latest thinking from bp and Marks & Spencer, probably the most successful service station partnership in the world.
Representatives from our Insight Mobility Retail Round Table share group joined me and we were lucky enough to be hosted by bp Vice President Mobility & Convenience retail UK Joanne Hayward and her team (including Hannah Munns, Dominic Casby and the convenience team) at Pinkham way, one of four new trial sites bp is testing.
As the ‘energy expansion’ gathers pace, service station operators need a strategy which gradually evolves with the changing needs of drivers and the kind of integrated mobility hubs which bp is building very much reflect this.
Just like Circle K in the Nordics, bp is installing fast chargers that serve the needs of EV drivers, but also continuing to serve traditional fuel customers too.
Yes the UK ‘car park’ is changing and this is a one way direction, but it is still a relatively gradual evolution.
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bp is trialling two formats, one geared towards top-up missions for everyday essentials and one focused on more food on the Move orientated transient sites – the four sitest at Merrow, Pinkham Way, Budbrooke and Poppleton – will be shaped by local customer feedback.
If successful, expect a wider rollout to the bp estate in 2026.
Jo Hayward, VP of Mobility & Convenience Retail UK, summed it up perfectly: “We’ll keep listening, learning and trying new ideas to ensure we are the first choice for our customers on the roadside.”
There’s an exciting opportunity for top-up everyday essentials which we see being exploited in many markets globally in larger service station locations.
One thing I really like looking at bp Merrow is how the store leads in with fresh produce – flowers, bakery and dine-in.
The most difficult thing with smaller convenience stores is to create that sense of fresh as you walk in the door – a big success for the M&S brand in its foodhalls and train station sites with the latest look and feel – and the impact in a service station environment is genuinely pretty transformational.
Truth be told, I don’t think I’ve seen this level of buzz around a forecourt refresh for quite some time.
And after visiting one of these upgraded locations last week, I can see why.
These stores feel different.
They’re brighter, more modern, and designed with a clear focus on food and convenience, bp is edging closer to what we’d call a true foodvenience proposition and that’s exciting.
What’s New?
The headline feature at Merrow is the M&S bakery – a forecourt first.
Fresh sourdough, farmhouse loaves, pretzels and pizzettas are baked daily, adding a premium feel to the offer.
Alongside this, the store has expanded its M&S food range and introduced a dedicated gifting zone with flowers, chocolates, cards and fizz.
It’s a clever move for those last-minute purchases.
Pinkham Way, meanwhile, doubles down on speed and comfort.
The refreshed wildbean café now offers made-in-store ciabattas, blended iced drinks and a broader hot food menu.
Both sites feature self-checkouts that combine fuel and shop payments in one transaction, a small detail, but a big win for time-poor customers.
I think the way bp have configured these self checkouts is particularly effective and it seems to work very well for customers – it looked to me like the majority of transactions were going through them!
Designed for Every Journey
What impressed me most is how these stores cater to multiple missions.
Whether you’re grabbing a coffee, picking up dinner, or charging your EV, the experience feels seamless.
The integration of EV charging bays alongside traditional fuel pumps signals BP’s intent to future-proof its network.
And let’s not forget the atmosphere.
These stores feel bright and contemporary, with layouts that make browsing intuitive.
They’re not just functional, they’re inviting.
From what I’ve seen, bp/M&S is on the right track.
bp is clearly pivoting from a fuel led to a convenience led business in the UK.
The convenience offer is supported by fuels, rather than the other way around and I think the further development of the top up offer is absolutely key.
These stores aren’t just about fuel anymore they’re about food, convenience and experience.
And that’s exactly where the future of forecourt retail lies.
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