As a multi-divisional company it’s not always easy for others to see how all the different elements of Bayford & Co fit together – or even what they are.
This section explains our different areas of business and gives you options for finding out more.
Gulf Retail
Bayford first entered the petrol retailing market back in the 1960s and for 30 years successfully ran a network of filling stations under the Thrust brand. However, this market has changed beyond recognition since the early ‘90s, with site numbers falling from 19,000 to less than 10,000 today.
Bayford innovated where others withdrew from the market by divesting itself of its company-owned filling stations and buying the UK licence for the iconic Gulf brand in 2001.
Gulf had been absent from the UK since the business was sold by its then owners, Chevron. But we recognised the extraordinary strength of the brand and, more importantly, the value the brand could deliver to the independent dealer market, which still makes up over 60% of the total number of UK forecourts.
Trading as Gulf Retail, our success has been remarkable and Gulf has been the fastest growing forecourt brand in this highly competitive marketplace for more than three years.
Gulf Retail offers a unique business proposition to its dealers. The network is very unusual in being 100% independently owned, and this means it is in our interest to ensure each Gulf site is successful. We do everything we can to help our dealers, but ultimately we do not tell them how to run their business.
The strong brand and genuine partnership is backed by a market-leading package of support services, from credit card polling to insurance, finance providers, and health & safety and employment law advice.
Perhaps most significantly, the Gulf Store Consultancy helps our dealers to maximise the potential of their convenience store. As margins for dealers have been squeezed in recent years, dealers have been forced to look beyond fuel sales for their profit streams – a well-run convenience store is the answer for many sites.
Gulf Retail is much more than just an oil supplier; it is a genuine independent alternative to the multi-national oil companies, and the fuel partner of choice for an increasing number of independent dealers.
Find out more about Gulf Retail by visiting www.gulfoil.co.uk.