Unmanned service stations have long been popular in Switzerland and the Scandinavian markets where they account for up to 50% of the entire network. This site concept is now being replicated in other markets. This brief details the size of the unmanned sector in 27 European markets, outlines the drivers of unmanned sites, and identifies where the sector is experiencing growth.

Scope

Detailed analysis of the growth in unmanned sites across 27 European markets and of the companies behind this expansion The reasons why fuel retailers have developed their unmanned networks and how these differ between European markets Insight into the market developments that are making unmanned networks increasingly feasible and where these trends are most developed Key trends and predictions on which European markets are likely to see largest increases in unmanned service stations going forward

Highlights

UK, Estonia and Poland have experienced the strongest growth in unmanned service stations with the numbers of sites having increased by 144%, 102% and 82% between 2004 and 2007 respectively. However, in absolute terms, France experienced the largest increase in the number of unmanned sites with an additional 151 sites over the same period. The main driver for the increases in the number of unmanned service stations in Western Europe is fierce competition and falling margins. In the French market, where hypermarkets account for 35% of fuel sales, price competition has led Esso to add 120 unmanned sites to its network over the last three years. Market developments have made unmanned networks an increasingly feasible option for fuel retailers. The greater use of cards for payment is one such trend. This has been growing especially quickly in Eastern Europe. For example, in Estonia the proporton of consumer payments made with a card rose from 10% to 25% between 2002 and 2006.

Reasons to Purchase

Assess the suitability of unmanned stations for your network and identify the factors that will make it a success Identify potential barriers to operating successfully in unmanned markets and establish appropriate strategies to overcome them Foresee which fuel retailers are most likely to expand their unmanned networks in the future and what this means for the competitive landscape.