Minale Tattersfield | Scribble News Blog

IDAC2017, meeting this year in Amsterdam

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 17:44:00 +0100

IDAC, the international two day industry conference, staged for the first time in London at erpec 2015, will bring together retail fuel executives and international equipment providers from across the globe to ‘Talk Business’ for three days, in the heart of Amsterdam, one of the world’s most popular international destinations.

Minale Tattersfield 3Ds design has been contributing to this two-day industry event since 2015, when we presented many of the innovative designs we had created for both multinational brands and local roadside retailers.

We are excited to continue to support IDAC in 2017 showcasing more on the design challenges and various brand successes we have experienced over the years while working in this dynamic and vibrant sector.

At Minale Tattersfield 3Ds design we have always produced designs that work harder. Since an important consideration for many petrol retailers is the size of their networks (shell 50,000, BP 25,000, Agip 20,000 and Total 15,000), cost is clearly a key factor and designs need to be practical. For this reason, an individual architectural gesture is very difficult to achieve across a whole network.

During IDAC2017, David Davis, 3D designer, will showcase Minale Tattersfield's forecourt designs which have made not only a considerable contribution to the success of our clients, but also contributed to the evolution of the petrol station.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Reunite with UNITI expo in 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 11:58:00 +0100

Uniti expo trade fair kicked off for the first time at the amazing Stuttgart Messa Germany from the 3 – 5 June 2014 exhibiting everything to do with what's new on and under the forecourt including a complete hall dedicated to convenience retail and food to go.

For us at Roadside Retail it was a good chance to rub shoulders with the great and the good in the business and hear first hand what is going on and present at the International Forum our own views of what the priorities are for the future from a global perspective.

David Davis, Head of Energy Retail Design at Minale Tattersfield, and a guest speaker at this year's Future of Forecourts Forum and Zukunftsforum Tankstelle felt the experience "Worthwhile and fitting that a business as developed as forecourt fuel and food retail should have its own European showcase and mouthpiece". The next Uniti expo is 2016. www.uniti-expo.de.

For those who can't wait there's Erpec 15 at the Tower Hotel, London 12-14 May 2015 which heralds the first International Design and Construction event that offers ERPEC visitors a more strategic overview and analysis of the business. More on IDAC to follow. http://www.erpec.com/

Less is more?

noreply@blogger.com (David D) — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 19:58:00 +0100

Sainsbury’s latest ‘Local’ petrol station and convenience store in Putney SW London is notable for us in the petrol retail business for its skeletal single skin canopy devoid of the normal lower second false skin comprising flat ceiling strips that are to be found on older Sainsbury’s canopies and virtually all other petrol station canopies throughout the world. The other notable omission is the brightly decorated canopy fascia in favour of large canister letters.

The question is, are Sainsbury’s bravely rethinking the concept of the petrol station canopy or recklessly under-branding their outlet? Judging by the steady flow of customers on the sunny spring Saturday morning we visited the answer is more likely the former. So what are the benefits of Sainsbury’s minimal approach? With around 250m2 less under-decking at say $30/m2 and 80m less fascia at say $150/m then there may be an overall saving of around $20,000 which may be around half the overall cost of the complete canopy. On the cost plus side, canister letters would cost at least $2,000 and there would be an additional cost to finish the canopy steelwork in a more durable and presentable white paint as opposed to the normal galvanised finish. Other drawbacks of the Sainsbury’s design include having to mount the LED task lights on to the main beam above the pumps rather than normal location between the pumps which affords the best vertical illuminance of the pump and spreader.

Removing interior false ceilings has been the trend in many forms of retail for decades now as it provides the opportunity for a higher ceiling and more of a warehouse look suitable for certain fashion outlets and discounters. That Sainsbury’s has extended the same logic to exterior canopies should not therefore surprise us. We say the Sainsbury’s brand is strong enough for consumers to feel equally comfortable under a minimal canopy as a conventional canopy. For less well known brands including independent petrol station outlets we guess the minimal approach may suggest a lesser quality fuel unless the design is executed with skill and does not look like a crude agricultural building. By definition minimalism has less components but those components must be perfectly detailed which alas is slightly lacking with Sainsbury’s design which has unsightly bracing members confusing the lines of the structure. Overall we say Sainsbury’s have earned their $20,000 saving by cleverly thinking out the box. Whether it’s a trend others may follow remains to be seen.

A dramatic, modern forecourt design that places the Moroccan oil company Winxo in an international context

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 5 Feb 2014 11:43:00 GMT

The secret is out. Winxo is the new name of the Moroccan oil company, CMH. Unveiled recently to the public on 3 February, Winxo’s new flower logo identity and forecourt branding marks an important step change for the company and will see customers benefit too.

According to the founding president of the Winxo Group, Hassan Agzenai, "the new identity will facilitate and encourage access to world markets."

Mr. Agenzai’s statement, made on the sidelines of a meeting held Tuesday January 28th in Casablanca, completes the picture that Minale Tattersfield first drew attention to when it presented a striking looking architectural design presented to readers of Insight, NACS Partner for Europe earlier last December.

CMH took the courageous route of rolling out the architectural design without a symbol and name to around a quarter of its retail sites in advance of the official launch scheduled for the following year. Prior to the logo being applied, there was a last-minute teaser campaign to keep everyone guessing and create more impact at the launch.

CMH initially approached a Parisian agency for a new name and symbol but invited Minale Tattersfield in 2010 to develop the flower identity further, especially the three dimensional aspects, so that it could seriously challenge incumbents Shell, Total and Afriquia.

“The architectural forms derived from the soft organic logo shapes are just as radical as the renaming, and have already proved to have a positive impact with consumers,” says Minale Tattersfield’s Head of Energy Retail, David Davis.

“According to Winxo there has been a noticeable uplift in turnover during early rollout phase and before the brand name was applied, suggesting that architectural forms play a significant role in attracting motorists onto the forecourt.”

“Consumer insights revealed that Moroccan’s aspire to the same lifestyle as their European counterparts to the North and have a similarly high expectation when it comes to quality and level of service. For this reason, Winxo was positioned as a local brand of international repute. Winxo had to appear dramatic, modern and above all conform to Moroccan’s expectations of how a European brand would present itself. Key to this strategy was that Winxo must ‘wow’ if it was to stand any chance of taking market share away from its incumbents”, explains Davis.

Winfood is the brand name applied to the food and convenience offer on Winxo highway stations. Comprising a modern 150 sq m c-store and an adjoining 350 sq m self serve restaurant, Winfood caters to locals and tourists alike with a prepared-on-site range of local and international dishes. In addition, shaded outside eating and safe play areas (plus dedicated WC facilities) are all provided to an international standard.

There is also Winwash and Winauto, the respective names of the car wash and service offer. Together, the new forecourt and convenience store design is being rolled out across the whole of Morocco and will eventually comprise of over 200 sites.

CMH chose to stay with Minale Tattersfield for the TV launch campaign which would be filmed out in Casablanca. Being a familiar movie location, it was not difficult to find a competent local film production team to work with Minale Tattersfield’s own directors, producers and creatives, and to put together a compelling campaign; the narrative centres around the petals of the logo and a suggested magic quality.

The real cost of a cup of coffee

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 9 Jan 2014 15:47:00 GMT

The real cost of coffee is just 8p according to a recent report by Allegra Strategies. When all costs are taken into account, that’s a net profit of 30p on every cup sold. Does this breakdown chart offer an indicative model for roadside cafe retailers or should it taken with a proverbial pinch of sugar?

Seeing that shop costs, rent and staff account for more than half of the total cost of a coffee and lead to a lower unit margin, it is more likely that Allegra's study focuses on a, standalone outlet of a major coffee chain. For a more accurate picture of the real cost of coffee, venue and format types need to be taken into account with formats such as coffee kiosks and self serve machines delivering profit margins that are surely much higher.

George Hammond, Dover South site.
Today, BP partners with 300 Wild Bean Coffee
and 170 M&S Simply Food outlets according to
Fuel Market Review, Forecourt Trader 2013

Self serve, on-the-go

Self serve coffee bars are popular choice on the forecourt with a value proposition that promises the experience of on-the-go convenience. In the UK, Costa Express is the number one coffee operator with 1552 outlets, and is ahead of Starbucks (757) and Caffè Nero (530) after acquiring Coffee Nation in 2011 whose customer base included Moto, Welcome Break and Tesco.

According to Costa Coffee, the BP branded site located on the main route into the port of Dover, its self-serve machines are in operation 24 hours a day. Per cup costs of a £2.00 cup of coffee are £1.20 after electricity, water and milk costs are taken into account. All consumables, maintenance and cleaning materials are met by the franchisor. Net profit before tax on a single cup is 80p, and even after tax is deducted, the net contribution is still higher than a single-cup coffee sale from a high street chain.

The touch-screen machine solution and popularity of the Costa Express brand has also helped a family-run forecourt Whitehouse Services located on one of the busiest routes into Cornwall. Since a major refit in 2009, the retailer has experienced a significant uplift in footfall hot drink sales as well as higher overall shop turnover.

According to forecourt manager, Dale Snowdon, “Previously the forecourt was not maximising its potential for coffee sales through the existing counter-top offer. The visibility of the new Costa Express machine from the till queue and its positioning next to the hot food cabinet has helped coffee sales to take off."

Supported with a wide array of branded POS materials – including a giant replica coffee cup at the entrance to the site, banners and a large elevated sign facing the busy dual-carriageway, the exposure the Costa brand gives to Whitehouse Services has helped stimulate impulse purchases and drive profits higher. Sales prior to the refit were around 100 hot drinks each day but now the site sells between 150 to 200 cups on a week day and well over 300 a day at weekends, while in peak time it has seen sales of more than 450 cups per day.

Intelligent vending machines (IVM): Higher margins at risk?

Starbucks: Expansion plans in less expensive
lease locations.

Drive through coffee bar

The revenue potential of drive thrus is a compelling proposition for retailers. Store layout design can be optimised to include two stores in one, where half the sales come through the drive-through window and half from the cafe inside. There is also an opportunity for these stores to trade longer hours to attract office workers in the morning and busy individuals who don’t have the time to stop for a more leisurely break.

The first UK drive-thru, a Starbucks-owned site, opened in Cardiff back in 2008. Today, Starbucks is leading the pack with substantial expansion plans to take the number of drive-thrus from ten to 200 outlets over a five year period. Half of these outlets will be operated by the privately owned petrol forecourt retailer Euro Garages which has a strong presence in the North of England.

Starbuck's aggressive growth strategy has led other coffee and fast food chains to respond and no wonder. Not only can these outlets be located in out-of-town locations where lease rents are cheaper, but they can also serve different customer segments with greater effectiveness.

A craving beyond coffee

While it is striking that the cost of what we are drinking is 16p (8p coffee and 8p milk), is it not more surprising that a profit of only 30 pence (or 13%) is made on each cup sold? The model doesn't appear to stand up to scrutiny when viewed in the context of other formats where a higher profit margin may be expected. We think Allegra's report reflects the need for coffee retailers to sustain customers' perception that their brand represents good value. However, value can also be manifested in the experience; it's an area which, we believe, can be exploited still more.

Twice as fast to stay in place

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 12:50:00 GMT

Russia's Minister of Economic Development, Alexei Ulyukayev, was in London this week. Talking to a packed audience at the LSE, hosted by LSE SU Russian Business Society, Mr Ulyukaev spoke candidly about the challenges ahead for Russia in its efforts to create modern and efficient industries.

Beginning the lecture with an unexpected quote by Lewis Carroll, “We must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place”, Mr Ulyukaev went on to discuss a number of key issues:

Confidence for inward investment
A focus on innovation and entrepreneurship
Facilitating a culture of best international practice and support for SMEs
Investment in infrastructure

Confidence for inward investment
1. GDP outlook: 3.3% for 2014, average of 3% 2014-16 (with a slower 2.5% GDP growth forecasted for 2015).
2. Sustainable growth. Continuing efforts being made to facilitate a culture of best-practice, increased R&D activity and steps towards moving to a knowledge based economy.
3. Mr Ulyukaev believes that trade relations are not being undermined by the political climate in Russia.
4. Mr Ulyukaev appeared bullish about the prospect of Russia soon to be joining the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
5. Russia is having to painfully adjust to new conditions in light of its accession to the WTO but over the long-term it promises to be a major positive catalyst for economic development. He said it was important to learn best economic policy and practice from an institution like the WTO.

Focus on innovation
Mr Ulyukaev appears to support the stance of Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov, emphasising how innovation is a key to stimulating Russia’s economy. (Surkov will be delivering a lecture on innovation at London School of Economics and Political Science on May 1 2014.)

Support for SMEs
1. Increased support for SMEs in the way of tax exemption for individual entrepreneurs in the first two years of trading.
2. Access to land and energy will be simplified, and tax for small and medium-sized enterprises will be reduced from 30% to 20%.
3. Credit will also be made more available for SMEs.

Investment in Infrastructure
1. Privatisation of rail industry. Russia and its state-owned railway monopoly Russian Railways (RZD) are in the midst of a long series of dramatic reforms to create high-speed rail infrastructure using private investment to make up the rail funding shortfall
2. Privatisation of Rosneft. Did not speculate on the timing of the privatisation or its potential postponement.
3. Sochi 2014. According to The Economist (World in 2014), the Games will end up being the most expensive Olympics in history at a cost of $50 billion (and four times more than planned)

A podcast of the talk is available here.

Prominent Russian economist and central banker gives free talk in London @LSE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 15:05:00 GMT

We have just learnt that the LSE SU Russian Business Society is hosting a talk by the Minister of Economic Development of Russia, Alexey Ulyukaev, titled "The state of the Russian Economy: goals and prospects"

It is not often that a prominent Russian economist and central banker is in town...

Time: 17.00 - 18.15
Date: Wed, 11th December
Venue: Old Theatre, The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE
Directions: See attached map - PDF

If you miss this event, don't worry as we shall be reporting back on the salient points of Mr Ulyukaev's important lecture here on Roadside Retail.

Food franchising: a vector for growth

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 11:06:00 GMT

A multidimensional retail destination made up of food and drink coffee franchises continues to be an important revenue generator, especially those with sit-down restaurants, food to go and drive-thru outlets.

The franchise sector generates an estimated 660.5 billion dollars annually with typical US industry sales at about 1.8 billion dollars daily. By far the largest preferred franchise partner in fast food convenience is McDonald's, followed by KFC, Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut and Starbucks but in terms of fastest growth, Subway leads the pack according to Entrepreneur 2013 Franchise 500.

Location, location, location
Launching a food franchise operation at a major transport node (airport, petrol station, railway etc.) offers a significant growth platform for innovators with the entrepreneurial drive to succeed. And the rewards are open to all, not just the big brands.

Food on wheels
The community element of roaming, mobile chains makes a powerful statement at a time when consumers are challenging the mainstream fast food sector. And with lower running costs, chefs of mobile food trucks can quickly and inexpensively trial new palate pleasing recipes and methods to entice consumers. Recent initiatives like Jamie Oliver’s van at airports and Morrisons’ Healthier Goods Vehicle point to brands exploring new ways to get closer to the customer at their point of need. Food-on-wheels is a common sight in the Far East too, and for the small independent trader, presents an attractive franchising opportunity.

Reviving regional favourites
Franchising is big business and it seems everyone wants a slice of the pie, no one more so than emerging entrepreneur David Beckham who was recently reported to have had the idea of opening a pie and mash chain called PM (Pie and Mash) with chef friend Gordon Ramsay.

Beckham sees a gap to revive a well-loved but forgotten staple for 'eastenders' (those native to east London including Beckham himself).

We think that Beckham's commercial vision matches his soccer skills, cleverly spotting that, despite the trend to explore exotic foreign cuisines, customers will always retain a nostalgia for "mama's home cooking". All that was required was to frame the offer as fashionable and cool.

It helps to have a world famous brand ambassador to kick start a new foodie franchise but don't underestimate the power of brand design, the kind that is unafraid to stick its head out...like Giraffe, a restaurant chain that is building a UK presence in the fast casual dining sector through its partnership with Tesco’s (locating its restaurants near to the supermarket) as well as at a growing number of international airport food-court environments. Incidentally, Giraffe has crafted a family friendly reputation and ‘global’ food offer that appeals to a broad international demographic.

Does local beat global?
From a Russian perspective...

As a model for many developing markets, Russia is an interesting model. According to a report published by Ekaterina Soyak, General director, E.M.T.G, there were more than 600 franchisors in 2011, representing a sixfold increase from 1999 with foreign franchisors representing a third of the total number.

Since the early 1990s, the big western brands including McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Subway and Wild Bean Cafe on BP petrol stations have led the market but there are a number of local fast food brands that have also managed to establish themselves including Coffee House, Shokoladnitsa, Kroshka Kartoshka and Rostik's (until they merged with KFC). Euromonitor predicts a 200% growth in the Russia fast food segment by 2014 with 50% occupied by local brands.

Source: EMTG | Russian Market Report 2012 (PDF: 1.2 MB)

The latest to join the list is Mister Blin down in Sarartov South Russia, a brand that has been selling Russia’s favourite snack food pancakes to an eager public for the last 7 years or so. With the help of Minale Tattersfield to give the brand a makeover, Mister Blin is now planning an assault in other regions and primarily the 40+sq m food to go offer within petrol station convenience stores.

Russia’s favourite local food chain Elki Palki is also undergoing a redefining process, and again using design strategists Minale Tattersfield to enable the franchise company to compete with the multinationals and, who knows, take them on at their own game by going global.

For Merab Elashvili, President of the Board of Directors of RFA (Russian Franchise Association) the growth of franchising is important for resurrecting Russia's entrepreneurial spirit and spreading
prosperity out to the regions. Speaking about franchising in the magazine Business Flight, Elashvili describes it as '...an engine of progress that can stimulate the non oil-and-gas sector of the economy and, particularly in the regions, become a platform for implementing innovations.'

While franchising is a vector for growth, stimulating job creation and prosperity, sustained economic progress is best achieved when franchisees tap into local needs and start their own brands. The opportunities to do this in Russia's roadside cuisine segment are there for certain individuals but if you are thinking of taking on a big chain, don't do it alone. Get a top international design and branding team on board and together construct a world class, enticing offer.

Roadside fuel pricing on digital advertisting displays

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 10:27:00 GMT

Just along from Universal Music in Kensington, London, we spotted this digital billboard which also serves as a fuel price sign and 3rd party promotional tool for a small independent forecourt operator called ECO. The opportunity to generate extra revenue in such a manner would be interesting to many retailers, however what legal concerns does this pose, particularly with respect to the intermittent display of fuel prices?

We spoke with Geraldine McCarthy, spokesperson at the Petrol Retailers Association.

She commented:

"It's a legal requirement to display fuel prices on forecourt pumps but not on roadside display boards as this is deemed as advertising."

While the yet to be superseded Price Marking Order 2004 (Statutory Instrument No 102) which implements Directive 98/6/EC states that, "prices must be unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible," this statute would only be directly applicable at point of purchase, and hence, not law-breaking on advertising panels outside of the fuel dispenser area.

In our view, retailers should be transparent in all their business dealings and communications with the public. The manner in which the price is communicated on this sign is not hidden but at the same time not as clear as it could be.

Overall we give ECO the benefit of the doubt but please tell us if you disagree.

Petrol stations can be fun

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 12:10:00 +0100

Meanwhile, in news recently, pictures of crisis wedding partying, performance art and dancing at the most unlikely venue, the petrol station forecourt.

Shell goes traditional Sirtaki whilst a Russian petrol pump operator from Bashneft breakdances with flair and contemporary aplomb (nothing to do with our colourful rebrand of course...)

Capturing the moment in austerity-torn Greece, photographer Nick Hannes reveals: "the groom, Christos, had to hold the reception at his own petrol station to save money.

Meanwhile in Russia, breakdancing is impressive, but breakdancing on a car roof while an unsuspecting driver is paying for his petrol is even more so.

The Disneyland of UK service stations?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 08:12:00 +0100

Located on the M25 near Cobham, the Extra Motorway Service Area (MSA) opened last September after a long and protracted period of planning. One year on, does this multipurpose roadside development still lead the way in cutting edge design and green initiatives? And was the £75m investment money worth spent?

Cobham MSA is one of nine motorway service areas of the Extra Group - the youngest and fastest growing of the four main UK operators in a landscape dominated by Moto, Welcome Break and Road Chef.

At 6300 sqm, the Cobham site is the ‘big sister’ to Beaconsfield MSA on the M40 and shares many of the design details of the earlier scheme according to Architecture 519 who secured planning approval for the contentious development.

Cobham MSA is designed by Devereux Architects in partnership with BAM Construction and Broham Forecourt Development. Site architecture is functional, with a pleasing aesthetic, typical of many new UK roadside service destinations.

Distinctive green copper cladding (TECU Patina, 100% recyclable, supplied by KME) adorns the exterior of the amenity retail building and adjoining (alcohol licensed) 75-bedroom hotel. It's certainly eye-catchingly attractive but one is hard pressed to see how this decorative element can be justified given the world's supply shortage of copper and its comparatively high expense. Granted however, there are plenty of sustainable and cost-effective features neatly integrated into the overall design - for example a generous rainwater harvest facility and large solar wall installation capable of providing enough power to preheat the main concourse and food court building.

Cobham MSA offers our international readers an excellent insight into what constitutes a modern UK roadside destination, one that appeals to all consumer segments including families, remote and mobile workers, professional truck drivers, day travelers, disabled users, as well as tourists thanks to its strategic location between Heathrow and Gatwick.

Its position is also particularly pertinent given it is situated on one of the busiest stretches of road in the UK. No surprise therefore that Britain's largest filling station is on site. With 36 (18x2) forecourt pumps and six dedicated high-speed heavy goods vehicle (HGV) pumps – totaling 141 nozzles – the Shell-owned station can serve as many as 3,500 vehicles a day. Aside from fuel, its forecourt shop sells roughly 210 litres of coffee and up to 300 snacks a day on a typical day.

Natural lighting floods the 4000 sq metre food court and concourse through floor to ceiling glass paneling, providing a pleasant atmosphere in which to shop, eat and relax. To newcomers, it can feel akin to an airport food court inside.

In terms of eateries, there are plenty of world cuisine options with tenant partner brands such as El Mexicana, Chozen Noodle and Carvery Express. Our reviewer opted instead for a jacket potato and mushy peas at Papa John's, but there are several other QSR options such as McDonalds and KFC, or alternatively M&S Simply Food for healthier food-to-go snacking and convenience meals. Outside the atrium building, there is a large lakeside terrace with landscaped grounds so eating al fresco in comfortable surroundings is possible, weather permitting.

One of the plus points about Cobham MSA is its Business Centre and lounge facility run by Regus UK Express. Our reviewer was impressed with the range of business services and meeting rooms on offer and initiatives to harness a "third place working environment" and strong business culture through, for example, its weekly speed networking breakfasts.

The washrooms and WCs are located at the back of the concourse which is somewhat inconvenient, but an admissible decision for a commercial retail venture that must recoup its investment and meet break-even obligations. For customers who bring 20 or passengers, the facilities which include shower rooms, are free to use. There are also limits on parking which is free for the first 2 hours, after which site specific charges apply up to a maximum charge of £25 per day. It is highly probable that the charges are as much pragmatic as commercially-geared, and imposed to ease traffic and retain a more relaxed atmosphere.

Whether the investment is money well spent is too early to tell at this juncture, however the site appears to be well thought through from a design perspective and most definitely fit for purpose.

PetrolPlaza Video Review from Insight NACS Future of Convenience 2013 in London, UK

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 7 Oct 2013 17:08:00 +0100

Out of the box thinking

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 7 Oct 2013 10:02:00 +0100

Scandinavian company U-Cont is well-known for modular filling station systems and its new above ground tank solution developed in partnership with UNicontain recently caught our attention, being highly flexible and offering significant cost savings for many forecourt retailers.

It's good to see a company think outside the box and presenting the concept in a fresh and trust-enhancing way. Underground fuel storage tanks (USTs) have been a staple of petrol station design for many decades. What U-Cont carefully demonstrate is that above ground fuel tanks can also be extremely safe: fire proof structure, insulation, leak detection, and other safety features enabling easy and effective maintenance and inspection. This is good news not only for independents and market entrants but also for established retailers aware of the commercial sensitivity and considerations of brand image when it comes to discussing contaminated sites.

U-Cont is not alone though in patented above ground tank solutions. Take a look at the above ground solution from Iran and our own Agip design with a gull wing canopy that took the same concept and made it attractive and welcoming in 1994.

We think above ground tanks offer an interesting possibility for the future that allow easier maintenance and monitoring. However we suspect that public reaction will be negative just because it is new, which is unfair considering tanker trucks travel through our city streets every day and no-one bats an eyelid.

Bashneft: On the move

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 1 Oct 2013 06:00:00 +0100

Ranked among the top ten Russian oil producers and value creators, Bashneft is clearly going places—and with the prospect of a London listing around the end of next year, it will surely bring the name to everyone's attention, and in doing so, put Bashneft firmly on the international map.

Owned by Sistema JSFC, it is no surprise to learn that the vertically-integrated oil company is preparing for an IPO.

Based on an analysis of total shareholder return at 1,616 global companies for the five-year period from 2008 through 2012, the 2013 Value Creators rankings* by the Boston Consulting Group recognise Bashneft as the only Russian company in the top 10. With average annual sales growth of 39% and total shareholder return (TSR) of 52.7 percent, Bashneft also impresses by being number one in the Oil Top 10.

Furthermore, by the time the company starts trading on the LSE, Bashneft will have completed a 6.5 billion rubles reconstruction and re-branding program across over half its network, which currently stands at 497 stations in five regions of Russia.

David Davis, Head of Energy Sector at Minale Tattersfield Design Strategy Group in London says:
"It is great to see Basnheft emerge with such vitality. Ultimately our job is to deliver value on design investment. A great design can facilitate revenues far exceeding client expectations with impressive margins both on and off-the forecourt."

"Our branded forecourt and c-store design solution is part of a wider programme of reconstruction and modernisation and the Board of Directors and others involved in its implementation also deserve full credit. A few years ago, only a minority in the West had heard of Bashneft, or indeed the economic potential of Bashkoria. Now the brand is clearly on the map — and increasingly on the lips of investors."

*See also p38 of PDF: The 2013 Value Creators Report, Unlocking New Sources of Value Creation, The Boston Consulting Group, p38

From the lab to the design studio

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 9 Sep 2013 14:29:00 +0100

The coming age of shmeat: lab-grown, cultured meat options on sale at your local supermarket or convenience store is nearing, making real food festivals like Meatopia resonate all the more — the festival's UK launch last weekend comes just a month after the world's first lab-grown burger was unveiled at a taste testing in London. Are we ready to embrace a future eating lab grown meat?

Attracting mainstream appeal from traditional meat eaters to progressive vegetarians won't be easy even if this venture is ultimately honorable: to solve one of the world's perennially perplexing agricultural problems: how do we create more meat for an ever-growing population without turning all our forests and arable land into pasture?

Put aside for a moment the environmental rhetoric that will surely intensify in the coming years with western governments, animal rights activists and futurists like Google co-founder Sergey Brin clamouring to lead the charge against "traditional thinking" about what we eat, and let us consider some of the more pragmatic considerations.

The naming issue. Is it meat?
The name meat originally comes from 'mete' meaning food in general, but nowadays it is used to describe a food derived from an animal with flesh and blood. Is lab-grown meat still meat if it is grown from serum from the blood of unborn cows? Will a prefix qualifier such as cultured, in vitro, etc. be required to make the name legal under the Trades Descriptions Act? If so what will be the effect on consumer perception and branding?

Currently speaking, ‘cultivated’ (or ‘cultured’) beats ‘in vitro’ which in turn tops ‘lab-grown’ or ‘test tube’ – however both ‘cultured’ and ‘cultivated’ have an elitist ring (as in ‘refined’ or ‘sophisticated’) are perversely ironic and make for easy ridicule. No wonder there is no officially recognised name as yet.

Transparency and trust
Consumers are becoming more discerning in food choices – see our article differentiate or alientate – and in this search for purity in the wake of contamination, food producers and restaurateurs are being forced to open up their supply chain with a demonstration of transparency.

The world’s most powerful fast food chain McDonalds with its FarmForward initiative (amongst others) is designed to restore trust but brand trust and trust in an industrial farming system are of course two very different matters.

“The burger is on the move. It is no longer fast food. It is a gourmet dish. Framing it for people in these terms will be essential for continual commercial success.”

An opportunity exists in the marketing of in-vitro burgers to give consumers clearer product information about its origins from the name of the scientist to even the cow in which the stem cells emerged – and this can be achieved to varying degrees in-store, on-pack and on-line. The obvious downside though is that the stem-cell burger is already perceived as a ‘frankenfood’ and any branded communication will have to reassure not amplify consumer suspicions.

To ease people into the concept of cultured meat, an intermediary product may have some virtue, especially if it appeals to early-adopter eco-conscious types. Trust formation is also helped by strong brand ambassadors chosen from different sectors of society.

Appealing to consumers of different faiths
The question which needs to be answered is how to position cultured meat in a way that can be favourably interpreted in a multi-faith society? Whilst Hindus shun cultivated meat because its society considers the cow as sacred, experts need to agree on a name that makes the product permissible under Kosher and Halal dietary laws.

“By 2050, the Food and Agriculture Organisation predicts global meat consumption will double as more people in developing countries can afford it.”

The solution is in the name
Like BP used Beyond Petroleum as a tagline, the innovative food producer Beyond Meat and the non-profit research organisation New Harvest provokes consumers to engage in the ethical debate by promoting a future of opportunity rather than of scarcity.

"Sales of meat alternatives reached $553 million in 2012, up 8 percent from 2010." Source: Mintel

The packaging design by Beyond Meat is carefully constructed to ease consumers into their meatless world with friendly visual mimicry, positive taste-conjuring words and simple health-related messages. The pack design and branding of Beyond Meat also provides useful pointers for the cultured meat sector, helping new customers become familiar with a tasty substitute. Here the ethical card is not trumpeted – no factory farms and no killing – it is implied.

Rather, the visual language and copywriting focuses on the health benefits of the protein rich food and an emphasis on the sensory properties (look, taste, feel). Appealing instantaneously by focusing on benefits and sensory experience requires strong brand imagery in the case of in-vitro meat. The frankenfood label, a misnomer commonly attached to it, is damaging not only to its desirability but also to the steady normalization of the food concept in the consumer's mind.

What branding can do is to take negative connotations associated with 'lab-grown', and reframe it around a new way of eating and perceiving meat. If the in-vitro burger and the IVM category itself is to really catch on the focus will need to shift away from the lab.

This will surely be one of the more interesting challenges for a design agency involved in food packaging, retail and identity creation.

No more better place

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 12:40:00 +0100

Image credit: Better Place Facebook

Following the success of the Toyota Prius and other hybrid vehicles over recent years, the next generation of exclusively electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf and almost fully electric Chevy Volt have entered the mass market. Good timing you would think for Better Place, the $850 million start up with some of the world’s keenest business brains at the helm to bring their battery exchange offer to market.

Wrong. Better Place filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. Why could such and enterprise fail? There are many suggestions, all of course with the benefit of hindsight and in the spirit of “Success is about learning from failure” then here are our top ten reasons:

The technology was wrong. This should be number 1,2 and 3 because really a start up with the wrong technology should not even bother to enter the market place. Better Place to remind those of you unfamiliar, was to offer battery replacement for electric vehicles which potentially offered the twin benefits of: a) Longer range by not having to wait for the batteries to be recharged b) Lower capital cost of the vehicle for the owner because the battery packs would be owned by Better Place and leased to the owner. Battery replacement may be worthwhile for taxis and delivery vehicles that may be in constant use but for the rest of us plugging in our electric vehicles at home, office or on the move via a fast charging system is perfectly fine. In fact, it’s more than fine, a de-centralised, simple system of recharging is one of the most appealing features of electric vehicles. No need for lease contracts and in the future, for those who install home solar PV, wind turbines or micro CHP then the possibility would exist to provide a component of the battery charge from a completely ‘Free’ source. Better Place chose a route requiring sophisticated battery exchange equipment within a physical structure requiring building permits and so on which became hugely expensive and we say unnecessary.
Batteries are not mobile phones. Better Place likened their product and more particularly the ownership model to that of mobile phones. Customers were not convinced. However cars are like mobile phones, they enable us to do an amazing array of tasks and more. Batteries are a necessary evil that provides the energy to empower cars and mobiles phones. The smaller and more powerful the battery the better. Rather than focus on getting us to all sign up to their lease agreements Better Place would have better spent the $850 million start up investment in developing a “Super” battery which was very powerful, lightweight and cheap. This is really what the market desperately requires.
Not obtaining car industry buy-in. To have a sufficient customer base, Better Place should have been able to exchange batteries in a wide range of electric vehicles. Battery technology is closely guarded by the car companies and in the end despite many companies being “Interested” only Renault agreed to partner Better Place.
Not obtaining government buy-in. For a business plan that relied on hooking in a significant number of customers, Better Place should have been more successful at the outset in converting positive noises from government into tangible support.
Too big too soon. Why was it necessary on day 1 to create dedicated battery change centres that would delay launch and soak up so much cash? What was wrong with making strategic partnerships with existing petrol stations networks, shopping centres and so on?
Beware of charismatic, smooth talking gurus who made their fortune in an IT business. Sorry to be unkind to Shai Agassi the mercurial founder of Better Place but he was not objective about his system compared to the plain home/work charging? To listen to him he seemed almost maniacal in his belief. Why? Because his business plan relied one creating a virtual monopoly and this is possibly why other “Interested” potential stakeholders were wary of him.
Not delivering on promises. The purchase price of electric vehicles without batteries were still high despite the batteries being provided on a lease basis from Better Place.
Eco is not enough. Given two identical products, the more environmentally friendly one should prevail in most cases. However expecting customers to forego any perks they had become accustomed to and change habits they were very comfortable with needs more of a pull than just ‘Eco-friendliness’. Like it or not an eco product is just like any other product, it has to offer real benefits and commercial advantages. In theory this should always be the case because eco products should be less consuming of fossil fuels. In reality any new product has to overcome huge obstacles to enter the market which established businesses do not face which sadly suppresses innovation.
What’s wrong with candy. Why did Better Place think they were so different from the ultra- competitive traditional petrol stations refuelling market which rely on revenues gained from selling groceries to top up profits.
Cool, but not as cool as Tesla. Better Place clearly looks good but the product has to deliver too. Tesla’s US supercharge centres look amazing too and offer free for life electric charging for their customers which takes 40 minutes for an 80% charge, pcerfect for a lunch break. How cool is that? Tesla are currently expanding their network of dedicated supercharge centres and say they will also offer a quick 90 second battery pack swap (which is not free).

What next. Apparently Better Place has been sold to Sunrise for $10-$12 million, a mere fraction of the money invested. But what is there of any value left? Our only suggestion is the new owners firstly address some the above points and focus on niche markets such as taxis, local municipality vehicles and possibly expand from there. Good luck.

See more EV and eco station designs - Sustainability
Related post: Source London, EV charge point network, Name Creation

A downward spiral for ERG

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:26:00 +0100

With 75 years of retail heritage, ERG's latest roadside identity punches well below its weight. Some observers may even speculate whether its new management has made a gross error of judgement in this regards - but first let's consider the context for the rebranding.

ERG branding

During the 70s and 80s. ERG (Edoardo Garron Refineries) was represented with three angled panthers - a spritely symbol with an aggressive dark blue anchor colour. The old ERG logo looks very dated now but is characterful nonetheless. Sadly, none of the former charm and quirkiness was retained.

Step forward to the early 90s, the dawn of a new phase for ERG with environmental pressure both from Europe and the Italian Government to produce lighter, cleaner fuel products.

Under the backdrop of strategic partnerships and corporate restructuring emerges a new ERG – a multi-energy player operating in the electricity, natural gas and renewable energy market. Its new multi-energy positioning necessitated a branding solution that reflected ERG’s environmental vision for the year 2000 and beyond. It might not look so out of place as a brand of washing powder though...

It is logical that ERG would want to play upon its trump card - its environmental offer - but there are surely better ways to to create a multi-tiered and characterful logo.

Performance of ERG branding across forecourt

Take a look at the application of the logo on the high-riser sign above the canopy and also on its main identification sign.

Whether it is intentional or not to apply the logotype differently across the two signs, the apparent inconsistency and control of the logotype's visual elements only serves to diminish the overall power of the roadside brand.

The stepped architecture with nationalistic colours may have been introduced for one of two possible reasons, either red and green were the last two colours left in the palette (ERG's main competitors have taken blue and yellow) or else it was simply pragmatic to adopt them. We doubt the nationalist card was being played in this instance, from our experience it is typically found to be of little worth.

Off the forecourt, it is equally evident that ERG's logotype lacks 'punch' - just look at how ERG's logo stacks up alongside Total and Elf brands on the corporate website page that introduces the 2012/3 range of lubricants. (The logotype translates much better however across its mobile telecoms business, ERG Mobile, particularly on a reversed white on green background.)

TotalERG

ERG was clearly unable to hold its own in a market dominated by Eni and Api. A confluence of factors in 2010 including a market downturn in Italy may have also contributed to the strategic decision for a joint venture undertaking between Total and ERG Petroli Italy and the creation of TotalERG. The new branding has greater impact as a roadside entity but has negligible character.

The re-imaging of ERG's network appears to have been poorly executed in the transition to TotalERG.

The re-applied ERG logo on mounted signage (bottom left image, above) takes on a split personality during a phased rollout which can only leave consumers bemused and perplexed.

The decision to display both Total and ERG logos comes across as a face saving exercise, a cosy boardroom solution, rather than something which is meaningful to their customer base. Such a strategy could work if there was sufficient conviction in the new combined brand but more frequently this is not the case.

At some juncture we speculate that there was a u-turn on the decision as evidenced by the new multi-colour symbol in the totem image (above right). The newly adopted logotype solution looks heavily compromised and hastily formulated like a soup with all the incongruous elements of the two symbols blended together. (Also notice how the totem design is not helped by the choice of panel colour which quickly attracts dirt and makes it look already old.)

With the French giant muscling its way into the marriage, will ERG's tri-colour forecourt branding solution help build footfall or will it do the reverse and make Italians more skeptical?

It is not the first time the petroleum giant devours a troubled brand. Remember the fate of Petrofina in Belgium in 1999? Total took control of the brand and re-imaged the network as Total Fina and then in acquiring Elf, renamed the network as Total Fina Elf. However the menage a trois couldn't last, leaving the weaker parties to suffer a terminal fate.

Whilst the alliance between Total and ERG brings TotalERG's market share to 12% and puts it in 3rd place behind Eni (Agip) and API (APl-IP), we question whether TotalERG can sustain its position and build long-term credibility.

Are eco petrol stations credible?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:35:00 +0100

Concept sketch for a single skin geodesic architecture with embedded solar PVs | © Minale Tattersfield

Compared with conventional designs, eco petrol stations offer two major benefits for fuel retailers:

Financial in terms of reduced costs to run the eco petrol stations and therefore a lower life time cost, which should more than outweigh any higher initial expenditure or incremental capital costs to build them.
Image / Customer reward. Early adoption of environmentally friendly technology and behaviour fits neatly with the softer, environmentally-friendly values that customers nowadays expect. Broadly speaking, research shows that, given two equal and indistinguishable looking products, the one with greater green credentials will be preferred. Commercial value is therefore highlighted by the potential for increased shop and fuel sales, plus the opportunity to offset advertising costs.

**But can an eco petrol station really be credible?**

We say yes. If a house becomes an eco house when it meets BREEAM or LEED standards then why not a petrol station if, it too, meets the same exacting standards?

Fossil fuels are a necessary evil that, whilst vital for maintaining our economies during the transition to cleaner sources of energy, shouldn't determine how a petrol station's structures are built, or negate setting rigorous environmental objectives and quality improvement benchmarks. That said, eco petrol stations should offer alternatives to fossil fuels as they become available.

Just because petrol dispensed at a petrol station is a visible manifestation of our fossil fuel world, is it any worse than the food we air freight from countries thousands of miles away, food which is grown with the aid of petroleum-based fertilisers? Or any more objectionable than training shoes we wear, the ones with plastic rubber soles, made in factories powered by oil-fired power stations, imported by diesel powered ships, and displayed in brightly illuminated, air-conditioned shopping centres?

Since petroleum derivatives are embedded in every aspect of modern life we have to shoulder responsibility collectively (not just oil companies) by making appropriate lifestyle changes and purchasing decisions in order to drastically reduce carbon emissions and avoid irrevocable climate change.

But there lies the dilemma, for whilst we all want a low carbon world, a world which Kyoto was conceived for, oil companies (and other high carbon-based businesses) have a vested interest on behalf of their shareholders to generate profit from the billions of dollars invested in oil extraction, refining and distribution. Should oil companies be expected to promote less fossil fuel usage when their business relies upon it? Or is it governments who should dictate policy and therefore ultimately us, the public at large who should be driving change?

"We say it’s a combination of them all these factors. Some oil companies are already doing this by investing in cleaner energy technologies including renewables and some have built eco stations and therefore are beginning to redefine themselves more as energy companies rather than exclusively oil companies. We say this realignment of the role of oil companies offers the mutual benefit of a better world for us all and continued profit for the new energy companies when dependence of fossil fuels finally diminishes."

If the pace of change is not sufficient, then either more government regulation is required, or in a free market, entrepreneurial lower carbon businesses will, in challenging the traditional, leaden-footed oil company, exploit the market opportunity and emerge more dominant. In fact supermarkets have been steadily eating into traditional oil company petrol station market share for many years in developed markets such as the UK and France, and will continue to do so if oil companies allow supermarkets to take the initiative on sustainability.

Eco stations on their own make a miniscule difference but have a much larger role to play in testing new technologies, plus communicating an intent to creating a better future. By demonstrating a better way of doing things, there is more chance, we as a society, can address the big challenges ahead. And by doing this in a tangible, exciting and inspiring manner through intelligent architecture, the motivation to change will be all the more powerful.

Small steps, perhaps... but steps in the right direction. So, why not profit from taking a lead? Take a look at the following eco-orientated service stations and make your own opinion.

Helios House, Los Angeles, USA
The most visible example of a LEED certified gas station is Helios House in Los Angeles. Built in 2007, the Green Station is the first LEED-certified gas station in the world and one of BP’s flagship sites until 2010. The geodesic domed canopy (see below) includes 90 solar panels, that's enough energy to power 2-3 average sized American homes per year.

Helios House first LEED-certified gas station | Image courtesy of John Picard & Associates

Tebay Westmorland Services, United Kingdom
The nation's favourite motorway services area at Tebay in Cumbria includes a farm shop with a welcoming rustic feel to it. With a wonderful array of wholesome, locally-sourced artisan food, the shop has become a destination in itself.

Elsewhere, BREEAM certified UK forecourts may lack aesthetic appeal but functionally they are highly energy efficient. For example Sainsbury’s Local store in Huslacks Green is constructed almost entirely of recycled material and one of the most eco-friendly c-stores to date.

Sainsbury's Local store in Solihull features 42 solar panels on the roof

Eco filling station concept design - image courtesy of Martindales

Repsol Sustainable Service Station, Madrid, Spain
Repsol’s sustainable service station in Madrid is a good example of a sustainable service station being the world's the first BREEAM certified petrol station. The partition walls and linings are made of cellulose fiber derived from more than 7,000 recycled newspapers, and the building is insulated by 64 kilograms of sheep's wool. The roof is made from straw and contains the proper installations to help trap and reuse rainwater for sanitation and irrigation purposes. All of the bathrooms are equipped with solenoid valves that stop excess water flow.

Autogrill, Green Roof Eco Stations, Italy
Autogrill opened three green roof eco stations with innovative constructions designed by Giulio Ceppi from Total Tool, Milano. Autogrill's green roof, irrigated with rain waters, makes a high level of insulation and reduces the impact the landscape.

Autogrill green roof eco station

Socar fuel station & McDonalds in Batumi, Georgia
A giant cantilever canopy is covered in vegetation, acting as an ecological shield for the shaded terrace while also helps avoiding energy loss. Living roofs contribute to LEED points but typically incur higher initial costs.

Image courtesy of Giorgi Khmaladze (Khmaladze Architects)

Eka 'Green Station', Moscow
Eka was the first to launch rapid charging EV terminals. The green station which we designed is located on Moscow's outer ring road (MKAD, 26km) and puts energy efficiency at the heart of its offer.

Eka goes eco with latest forecourt design | Image courtesy of Revolta

Solar PVs mounted onto glass with large diameter Big 'A' fan

Roadside Retails own designs are just concepts but follows a very expressive Buckminster Fuller like single skin geodesic architecture with embedded solar PV within a combination of glass and steel panels. All very doable but for a one-off it will surely have a cost implication compared to the ubiquitous twin skin flat metal canopies that everyone knows how to build with their eyes shut.

Weight of steel-wise, the dome would be less than the conventional flat designs but for glass and the glass mounting system it would certainly increase the cost, which would favour polycarbonate.

Assuming PV installed at around 1 euro per watt and an area of 400 m2, PV equates to around 40k euros capital cost with a peak power rating of 40kw. Depending on the geographical location one might obtain 73 kwh, which depending upon the local feed in tariff, may generate 14.6k euros annually.

**
See more sustainable designs.

Convenience retail in Russia is evolving

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 5 Apr 2013 16:07:00 +0100

Kerb trip incident acts as reminder for forecourt owners

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 3 Apr 2013 13:12:00 +0100

Petrol station boss Steve Jones, Harvest Energy | Credit: Anglia News

PC Kelly Jones “drops legal action” against burglary victim whose kerb she tripped over at a Harvest Energy petrol station in Thetford, Norfolk on August 25, 2012.

According to Steve Martin, Managing Director of sign installation company Xmo Strata, the highly publicised case could be ‘helpful’ for forecourt owners and those working in the industry.

Wary to seize on the opportunity, Mr Martin said the incident did not involve signs, but was a useful reminder to anyone working on fuel forecourts.

“This kind of controversy can only be helpful in limiting the possibility of future claims of this type”, he said.

UK-based forecourt designers Minale Tattersfield, who work closely with sign contractors from around the world, believes a properly designed forecourt should preemptively seek to address on site hazards – two such ways are to ensure the forecourt is appropriately lit and signed.

Lighting the way to energy savings

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 2 Apr 2013 11:59:00 +0100

Uniform illumination courtesy of CREE

When specifying optimal luminaires for a forecourt design project, you would assume a higher power lighting fixture offers better subject illumination and visibility for safe circulation. However, a lower power solution offering more even uniform light can outperform some of the more powerful light fixtures. How is this possible you might wonder?

Take a stroll under natural moonlight. With an unobstructed view of the night sky, the scene before you will be remarkably apparent with just 1 lux. Compared with other artificial light emitting sources this level is astonishingly low thanks to the moon's ability to refract light.

Of course safety requirements for illuminating a public area necessitates a higher minimum lux luminaire. Furthermore, when deciding upon the most appropriate level of lighting, you have to carefully weigh up the following factors, for example: to what extent is visual attractiveness, comfort and security important for my project? What are the performance requirements the luminaires need to achieve? What visual function does the lighting needs to perform? To what degree must the lighting integrate with the surrounding architecture?

The amount of light required on a road to reveal objects (i.e. vehicles, pedestrians and obstructions) depends upon the average rate, density and speed of traffic, and whether pedestrians are typically present, i.e. mixed usage areas.

In the UK, there isn't a specific standard detailing how to light a petrol station forecourt, the only real guideline is BS EN 12464-2 Light and Lighting – Outdoor Workplaces, which only details a minimum of 150 lux.

Application	Lighting Level	Example
Under canopy lighting	400-500 lux
On face of pumps	>100 lux
Area/Yard lighting	20 lux	Heavy traffic, larger complex parking
	10 lux	Medium traffic, major store parking
	5 lux	Light traffic, small shop parking

All things considered, low level diffused light still has considerable potential for excellent illumination, whilst high power point source light may be wasted.

Low lux even distributed light offers a cheaper, more sustainable and energy efficient solution as well as helping your client to minimize their installation costs.

The current trend is towards LED yard lamps where the fitting has been designed to give a wide angle dispersed light output. This solution, which combines the benefits of low energy consumption (and long life) with low lux even distributed light, offers the best of all worlds.

Although initial investment costs may be higher at start, there is typically a return on investment within two years and over lifetime, costs will be considerably lower.

Lewis Hamilton mistakenly pits in the wrong garage

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:58:00 GMT

Lewis Hamilton mistakenly pits in the wrong garage at the Malaysian Grand Prix last Sunday. McLaren’s pit box would have taken some resisting for Lewis Hamilton who was their F1 driver for 6 years until signing to Mercedes at the end of last season. It is understandably hard to break a bond of team loyalty after so many years, still harder if the colours of his former team’s overalls are more eye catching.

Whilst Petronas has optimised its branding across the pit building and track, its team and particularly pitstop mechanic overalls are not so visually arresting. Perhaps if Hamilton had seen a swarm of green in the pit lane, the margin for making such a pitstop error could have been lower?

To be fair to Hamilton, there's little to differentiate the pitboxes of the two teams apart from the mechanics livery. Distinguishing silver from white on approach is not easy under race pressure and Hamilton is resigned to picking out other distinguishing features like size, positioning and colour of decals to guide him.

In the case of Mercedes AMG PETRONAS, the black lettering on silver is strikingly cool when viewed in isolation but comparatively it fares less well against McLaren's uniform. The band of red that makes up the Vodafone decal on McLaren's top is highly visible from all angles whereas the black letterform of Petronas doesn't have the same standout. In light of this, we should be a little forgiving of the former F1 McLaren driver for locking in too soon to the McLaren pit box.

Benefits 'in store' for heat recovery chillers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:14:00 GMT

Image courtesy of Daikin

Discussing chilled technology during a cold snap in Northern Europe makes sense when it involves utilising heat recovered from the chilling process to warm the ambient areas of a convenience store.
By offsetting a proportion of the demand of conventional heat sources, heat recovery systems allow businesses to make substantial cost savings whilst contributing at the same time to carbon footprint reduction. Lower running costs stemming from reduced energy consumption therefore amounts to a significant win-win for both the environment and c-store retailer.

Minale's design team, being involved in refreshing c-store environments for fuel retailers worldwide, enjoys close relationships with suppliers of environmentally-proven technologies, and frequently has to assess the merits of new innovations.

It will no doubt be of interest to some of our international readers to hear about the latest generation of heat recovery systems. Daikin, for example, is successfully marketing its heat recovery systems to major convenience food retailers including the Co-op.

Its integrated solution Conveni-Pack benefits all kinds of convenience store and location, from smallholder rural sites which may be subject to strict noise pollution legislation to larger city stores that cater for the needs of fresh and frozen food shoppers.

Capitalising on heat generated from chiller cabinets, integrated heating, cooling and refrigeration solutions are capable of cutting energy costs by up to 50% according to Daikin.

Another company leading the field is S&P Coils Limited. SPC designs and manufactures a range of evaporating and condensing coils to suit retailer's common refrigerants.

Image courtesy of S&P Coils Limited. SPC's heat reclaim coils provide a high rate of energy saving; up to 88kw of heat which was previously vented into the atmosphere can now be used for store heating.

SPC's heat reclaim coils have recently been used to recycle heat rejected from chiller cabinets in 14 ALDI stores throughout the UK. The recycled heat allows store temperature to be kept at comfortable level for its customers whilst reducing the firm's energy bill.

An international symbol of access?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:59:00 GMT

The international symbol of access (ISA) is often seen where access has been improved, particularly for wheelchair users. But in this instance the ubiquitous symbol appears to negate its original intention.

Spotted at a gate's entrance in Sochi, the text on the small notice beneath explains: "Keys from this gate are held by a railway station duty manager and in the medical (first aid) office."

Minale Tattersfield's view is that disabled access shouldn't be an afterthought, something tacked on without conscious planning. Rather it should regarded as an integral component of a designed environment that takes into consideration the common needs of all user groups. Let's not forget that we can all find ourselves 'disabled' in certain stress-inducing situations, for example when we are in a hurry, carrying shopping, the children are distracting us...severe weather conditions...and so on.

2014 will be the first time Russia has hosted the Paralympics. Consequently there is an unprecedented opportunity for host city Sochi, and indeed Russia, to leave a positive impression of its treatment of disabled visitors.

There is still plenty of time left ahead of the Games to minimise potentialities for negative experiences and to deliver a more holistic approach to wayfinding accessibility.

The dates for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games are:
XXII Olympic Winter Games - Friday 7, February – Sunday, 23 February 2014
XI Paralympic Winter Games - Friday, 7 March – Sunday, 16 March 2014

Differentiate or alienate?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 5 Mar 2013 16:08:00 GMT

A positive outcome in the wake of the horsemeat scandal is surely the fact that there is now a wider appreciation of the complexity of the industrial food chain.

With the veil being lifted on the real commercial pressures facing food companies, consumers are increasingly taking interest in the provenance, nutritional quality and health impact of the food they eat, particularly prepared ready meals and food consumed out-of-home.

In Britain we should be all the more concerned. As well as consuming more prepared meals than any other in Western Europe (UK sales of prepared meals sky-rocketed by as much as 480% between 1974 and 2011), we are also the most obese with the highest rate in Europe and among those countries with the highest rates in the developed world.

The link between rising obesity and increased consumption of convenience food high in salt, sugar and fat content has been widely documented and the world’s major food companies have duly responded with healthier options containing lower amounts in their ready meals. Meanwhile convenience retailers have also begun in earnest to promote healthier food choices in-store and on front-of-pack.

Carrot and stick approaches like rewarding customers with price discounts on healthier food choices or the recently mooted idea of imposing a soft drinks tax could easily backfire, further alienating a swathe of consumers who can neither afford or find time to eat healthy, nutritious food. Instead of alienating these consumers with added taxes, a better approach would be to tailor healthy eating initiatives specifically to them. Let's look at a few target-driven market responses...

HGV NuMe

Morrisons NuMe healthy eating range, created by Williams Murray Hamm, coincided with the launch of a trial PR campaign promoting healthier roadside eating amongst UK’s 465,000 licensed HGV (Healthier Goods Vehicle) drivers and Morrisons’ 1207 HGV and van drivers.

Whilst crisp simplicity of the NuMe graphics pull together to simplify the health benefits for the primary food shopper, it appears to be designed for a mass (C1C2D) audience rather than the niche HGV driver community. On the other hand, Morrisons' trial PR campaign to HGV drivers is very a positive initiative, as it engages with the more vulnerable category of convenience food consumer (through phrases such as 'Fry Down' and 'Health MOT') who have less time to cook and less healthy options at hand.

Tebay Services, Westmoreland Limited
The UK's only family-owned and run Motorway Service Area (MSA), Tebay Services, Westmoreland is a veritable foodie paradise and an anomaly amongst the glut of cheap and cheerful chains. Situated in North West England on J38 of the M6 motorway in Cumbria, Tebay has been trendsetting since it launched in 1972 by championing artisan, locally produced food.

Catering to the needs of a predominantly rural and traditionalist community plus commercial truck drivers, coach tourists and independent travellers, it is no wonder that Tebay is regularly described as the best motorway services area in the UK.

Instead of typical motorway franchise fodder, there is a farm shop with butchers counter and a busy 300-seater café restaurant selling fairtrade coffee plus delicious range of hot and cold foods using fresh organic ingredients.

In contrast to low-cost supermarket and convenience operators, there is no question over provenance, traceability and quality of meat products sold at Tebay’s farm shop. The dedicated Butchery Manager has control over every part of the process from sourcing of fresh meat at Tebay’s local farm to cutting and hanging facilities, which are also kept within the business.

It’s not all about expensive prime cuts though. The butchery’s food approach means that every part of the carcass is used. This kind of resourcefulness enables chefs to cook healthy slow cooked stews during Winter and hand-pressed BBQ’d galloway burgers on warmer days – much to the delight of hungry travellers.

The Tebay example shows that roadside convenience and quality food at fair prices can ostensibly be achieved but requires more than just a bold entrepreneur to make the initiative work, especially in the less affluent corridors.