A new Xpress format from Kuwait Petroleum will be used to brand forecourt concessions as it explores new retail partnerships outside its joint venture with Budgens. Kuwait Petroleum GB marketing manager Ian Rose said: "Xpress will be used as a bridge brand. The Budgens arrangements are not exclusive on either side. "Budgens is an extremely good fit for our larger forecourts and we have a great relationship. But we are always on the look out for new link-ups with third party grocers, particularly for smaller sites. We are in discussions with symbol groups including Spar." The new format, with has an integral licensed section, will be trialled in collaboration with Budgens at five sites over the next 12 months, the first having already opened in Windlesham, Surrey. The new look stores will be separated from the forecourt instead of being linked by a canopy and the store has its own green awning. Inside, specialist sections such as the bakery and fruit and vegetables are visually divided off from the rest of the store by colour to create a shop within a shop feel. The stores will also have internal ATMs provided by Alliance and Leicester. Rose said: "We will use the Xpress fascia across our 27 company owned sites and plan to extend it into our co-managed sites in the future, with a potential portfolio of 90 stores." {{NEWS }}

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