Victoria Wine opens outlet in Total Oil petrol forecourt
Victoria Wine is to open an outlet in a Total Oil petrol forecourt, becoming the first branded off-licence concession to open in a petrol station.
The Total Addlestone site in Surrey is about to open a Victoria Wine shop within its store. Wines, beers and spirits will be stocked.
Pressure group Alcohol Concern has voiced fears about the deal. Although there are already 260 petrol forecourts with licences to sell alcohol in the UK, it fears a branded outlet will further encourage drivers to drink. “This may cause confusion around the anti drink-driving message,” says spokesman Mark Bennett.
Victoria Wine’s marketing and buying director Richard Lowe argues: “Sixty per cent of Victoria Wine’s 3 million weekly customers already travel to the stores by car.”
Total says all staff are trained by Victoria Wine to prevent problems such as underage drinking. It says the move puts it on an equal footing with supermarkets.
