Table Of Contents
OVERVIEW
Introduction
KEY FINDINGS AND ACTION POINTS
Over 5.1% of European fuel sales are through unmanned service stations
Over 50% of service stations in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland are unmanned
Esso, Statoil, and Neste are the largest unmanned fuel retailers by fuel volume sales
Fuel retailers should consider unmanned sites instead of network rationalization
Oil majors should introduce unmanned sites to counter the threat from supermarkets
New entrants need to differentiate their unmanned sites from manned operations
Existing unmanned players must continue to roll out CCTV and other safety and security features
Unmanned players should exploit vending opportunities
MARKET CONTEXT
Defining the unmanned European fuel retail market
Unmanned service stations are defined as those with the sole option of automated payment for fuel
Only the public service station network is examined
Verdict has split Europe into mature and developing unmanned markets
European market overview
There are over 10,000 unmanned service stations in Europe
Switzerland has the largest number of unmanned service stations in Europe
The volume of fuel sold at unmanned service stations across Europe is on the increase
The average fuel volume throughput at unmanned sites is lower than manned forecourts
France is the largest unmanned market by fuel volume
European competitor overview
AVIA has the largest network of unmanned sites across Europe
Esso is the largest unmanned fuel retailer in Europe by volume share
STRATEGIC ISSUES
Network rationalization and reduced margins have created a demand for unmanned sites
The number of service stations across Europe is declining
Declining fuel margins mean that less-profitable sites are closing
Unmanned service stations are cheaper to implement and maintain than manned forecourts
The strategic benefits of unmanned sites can be considerable
Unmanned service stations fulfill the demands of modern motorists
Around 40% of European motorists do not use the service station shop
Motorists are increasingly polarized in their service station purchasing behavior
Motorists highly value service stations that have convenient opening hours
Vending machines can fulfill the basic refreshment needs of motorists
The branding and pricing of unmanned sites is different to manned forecourts
Fuel prices at unmanned service stations are invariably cheaper than at manned sites
Fuel retailers with unmanned sites often adopt a different canopy name or different brand
Unmanned sites tend to be located away from major roads
Unmanned sites typically do not accept vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
Unmanned operators are self-regulated
The regulations governing unmanned sites are typically the same as those for manned sites
CCTV and alarms are fairly commonplace at automated sites across Europe
Cash payments are being phased out at sites across Scandinavia
MATURE MARKETS
Belgium
Just under 20% of service stations in Belgium are unmanned
The volume of fuel purchased at unmanned sites is set to grow by 12% to 2013
The throughput at unmanned service stations in Belgium is lower than at manned sites
Q8 has the largest network of unmanned stations in Belgium but DATS24 leads the market in terms of sales
Q8 plans to add six more unmanned sites to its network in 2011
Supermarket fuel retailer Dats 24 has a strong position in Belgium
Denmark
Denmark has the highest penetration of unmanned sites in Europe
Just over half of all fuel sold in Denmark is through unmanned service stations
The throughput of unmanned service stations in Denmark is less than the manned average
OK has the largest unmanned network and automated volume sales in Denmark
OK is the largest unmanned operator in Denmark
Uno-X has a network of 300 unmanned service stations
Finland
Over half of all service stations in Finland are unmanned
Half of all fuel sales in Finland are through unmanned service stations
Manned and unmanned throughputs in Finland are expected to stay fairly level to 2013
ABC has the largest unmanned network and share of unmanned fuel volume sales in Finland
ABC has added 30 sites to its network since 2008
Neste has the second largest share of unmanned fuel volumes in Finland
St1-branded sites account for the fourth largest share of unmanned volumes in Finland
France
Under 10% of service stations in France are fully unmanned
The volume of fuel purchased at unmanned sites in France is set to increase to 2013
Unmanned throughputs in France are higher than at manned sites
Esso has the largest unmanned network and share of automated fuel volume sales in France
Esso's unmanned sites are designed to go head-to-head with French hypermarket players
The Netherlands
There are over 1,000 unmanned service stations in the Netherlands
More fuel was sold through unmanned sites in Netherlands in 2010 than in 2009
Unmanned service stations in the Netherlands have a smaller average throughput than manned sites
The major oil companies follow a similar unmanned network strategy in the Netherlands
Tinq is the largest unmanned player by volume and sites in the Netherlands
Tango has the second largest unmanned network in the Netherlands
Norway
Just over a fifth of service stations in Norway are unmanned
The volume of fuel sold through unmanned sites in Norway is predicted to increase out to 2013
Unmanned throughputs in Norway are set to rise slightly to 2013
Statoil has the largest share of unmanned fuel volumes in Norway
Statoil's unmanned network operates under the 1-2-3 brand in Norway
Sweden
The number of unmanned sites in Sweden fell between 2008 and 2011
Around a third of fuel purchases in Sweden are through unmanned service stations
Unmanned service station throughputs are around two-thirds that of manned sites
OKQ8 is the largest unmanned network in Sweden
OKQ8's unmanned throughput is slightly higher than the market average
Statoil plans to install CCTV at all of its 1-2-3 and Jet unmanned sites in the future
Switzerland
The number of unmanned service stations in Switzerland fell marginally between 2010 and 2011
The volume of fuel purchased through Swiss unmanned sites increased by 3.3% between 2010 and 2008
The average unmanned volume throughput is forecast to increase marginally to 2013
AVIA is the largest branded unmanned network in Switzerland
Agrola has the largest share of unmanned fuel volume sales in Switzerland
BP added three unmanned sites to its network in 2010
DEVELOPING MARKETS
Austria
Just over 10% of all service stations in Austria are unmanned
Unmanned fuel volume sales are up 26.4% on 2008
The average throughput at unmanned sites in Austria is less than 2 million liters
Genol has the largest network of unmanned service stations in Austria
Estonia
Just over a third of service stations in Estonia are unmanned
Unmanned fuel volumes are predicted to increase in Estonia
The average throughput at unmanned sites in Estonia is set to increase by 1.5% to 2013
Neste is the leading unmanned fuel retailer in Estonia
Germany
There are very few unmanned service stations in Germany
Unmanned volume sales in Germany take up less than 1% of total fuel sales in the country
The average unmanned fuel throughput is less than the market average
AVIA is the largest unmanned player in Germany
Italy
The number of unmanned sites in Italy is set to increase to 2013
The volume of fuel sold through unmanned sites in Italy is less than 1% of total fuel volume sales
Unmanned throughputs in Italy are around half that of the market average
Q8 is the leading unmanned player in Italy
Lithuania
Under 10% of service stations in Lithuania are unmanned
The volume of fuel purchased at unmanned sites in Lithuania is set to increase to 2013
Unmanned throughputs in Lithuania are higher than manned throughputs
Neste is the leading unmanned player in Lithuania
Poland
The number of unmanned service stations in Poland has increased by 58 since 2008
The volume of fuel purchased through unmanned sites is likely to increase dramatically to 2013
The average throughput at unmanned sites is slightly lower than the market average
Neste has the largest network of unmanned sites in Poland
Spain
The number of unmanned service stations in Spain is on the rise
Unmanned fuel volumes represent a small proportion of total fuel sales in Spain
Unmanned throughputs in Spain are smaller than at manned sites
Galp has the largest network of unmanned sites in Spain
UK
Less than 1% of service stations in the UK are unmanned
Unmanned fuel sales are expected to increase to 2013
The throughput at unmanned sites in the UK is higher than the manned average
Asda has the largest network of unmanned service stations in the UK
APPENDIX
Key notes and definitions
Methodology
Historic data
Additional primary research
Additional secondary research
Data modeling
Forecasts
Further reading
Ask the analyst
Verdict consulting
Disclaimer
LIST OF TABLES
Table: Mature, developing, and other unmanned country classification
Table: Europe total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Europe total unmanned fuel sales and share of total fuel sales, 2008–13e
Table: Europe average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Unmanned sites by European retailer, January 1, 2011
Table: European unmanned competitor fuel volume sales and share of total European unmanned fuel volume sales, 2010
Table: Belgium total sites, unmanned sites, network penetration, and CAGR, 2008–13e
Table: Belgium total fuel volume, estimated unmanned and fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total fuel sales, 2008–13e
Table: Belgium average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Belgium unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Belgium leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Denmark total sites, unmanned sites, network penetration, and CAGR, 2008–13e
Table: Denmark total fuel volume, estimated unmanned and manned fuel sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Denmark average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Denmark unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Denmark leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Finland total sites, unmanned sites, network penetration, and CAGR, 2008–13e
Table: Finland total fuel volume, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Finland average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Finland unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Finland leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: France total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: France total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: France average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: France unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: France unmanned fuel volumes competitor overview, 2010
Table: Netherlands total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Netherlands total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Netherlands average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Netherlands unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Netherlands leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Norway total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Norway total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Norway average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Norway unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Norway leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Sweden total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Sweden total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Sweden average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Sweden unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Sweden leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Switzerland total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Switzerland total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Switzerland average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Switzerland unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Switzerland leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Austria total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Austria total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Austria average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Austria unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Austria selected unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Estonia total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Estonia total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Estonia average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Estonia unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Estonia leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Germany total sites, unmanned sites and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Germany total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Germany average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Germany unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Germany leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Italy total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Italy total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Italy average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Italy unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Italy leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Lithuania total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Lithuania total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Lithuania average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Lithuania unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Lithuania leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Poland total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Poland total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Poland average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Poland unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Poland leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: Spain total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: Spain total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: Spain average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: Spain unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: Spain leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
Table: UK total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Table: UK total fuel volume sales, estimated unmanned and manned fuel volume sales, and unmanned share of total sales, 2008–13e
Table: UK average throughputs, by service station type, 2008–13e
Table: UK unmanned sites competitor overview, January 1, 2011
Table: UK leading unmanned players, volume, throughput, and market share, 2010
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure: Europe total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Total unmanned sites and share of total national sites, mature unmanned markets, January 1, 2011
Figure: Total unmanned sites and share of total national sites, developing unmanned markets, January 1, 2011
Figure: Europe total unmanned fuel sales and share of total fuel sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Total unmanned fuel volume sales and share of total national fuel volume sales, by country, mature unmanned markets, 2010
Figure: Total unmanned fuel volume sales and share of total national fuel volume sales, by country, developing unmanned markets, 2010
Figure: European unmanned competitor sites and share of total unmanned sites in Europe, January 1, 2011
Figure: Major European unmanned players and country presence, January 1, 2011
Figure: European unmanned competitor fuel volume sales and share of total European unmanned fuel volume sales, 2010
Figure: Europe total service stations and registered vehicles, 2008–13e
Figure: Belgium total sites, unmanned sites and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Belgium total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Q8 and Q8 easy logo, and Q8 Plus B2C loyalty card
Figure: Q8 easy site in Geel, Belgium, which offered half price fuel in October 2010
Figure: Dats 24 unmanned site and Colruyt supermarket
Figure: Denmark total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Denmark total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: OK and OK Plus logo
Figure: Uno-X unmanned service station, Denmark
Figure: Finland total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Finland total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: ABC unmanned service station, Finland
Figure: St1 unmanned service station, Finland
Figure: France total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: France total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Esso Express unmanned service station, France
Figure: Netherlands total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Netherlands total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Tinq unmanned service station, Netherlands
Figure: Tango unmanned service station, Netherlands
Figure: Norway total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Norway total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: 1-2-3 branded service station, Norway
Figure: Sweden total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Sweden total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: OKQ8 unmanned service station, Sweden
Figure: Switzerland total sites, unmanned sites and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Switzerland total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Austria total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Austria total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Estonia total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Estonia total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Germany total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Germany total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Italy total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Italy total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Lithuania total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Lithuania total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Poland total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Poland total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: Spain total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: Spain total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e
Figure: UK total sites, unmanned sites, and network penetration, 2008–13e
Figure: UK total fuel volume, estimated unmanned fuel volume, and share of total sales, 2008–13e