Big changes are coming to the UK fuel market. With the launch of the Fuel Finder scheme in January 2026, fuel retailers will soon be required to report prices and outages in real time or face steep penalties. 

In this video, PDI’s Mark Evans explains what the regulation means, how it compares to regulations in other international markets, and why PDI is uniquely positioned to help UK retailers stay compliant from day one. 

With over a decade of global experience in supporting fuel pricing mandates from Germany to Australia, PDI’s Fuel Pricing platform delivers more than just compliance. It offers real-time visibility, automated reporting, anomaly detection, and the peace of mind that comes from working with a trusted global partner. 

Speak with Mark’s team about PDI Fuel Pricing Solutions and the Fuel Finder scheme implementation today.

How will fuel prices trend in 2025? The “GasBuddy 2025 Fuel Outlook” forecasts what to expect at the pump during the year ahead.

You’ll find:

• Predictions for the national average price of gasoline and diesel in 2025
• Forecasts for the highest and lowest yearly prices by state
• How much Americans are projected to spend on gasoline in 2025
• Insights and commentary on seasonal and geopolitical factors affecting gas prices

The last time I was in Australia while visiting customers a couple of months ago, I couldn’t help but notice the increased emphasis local operators put on establishing themselves as more than a place for “gas, smokes, and Cokes,” as we used to refer to retail stations way back when I was studying in the United States.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it back to Australia to attend the very interesting APFI Forum 2024 and see my friend Mark McKenzie. However, my team was able to attend, and they came back reporting the same sentiment about broadening the choices of what c-stores offer.

While fuel is still what brings customers to sites, there’s an increased need to understand consumer behavior to optimize offerings in such a highly competitive business climate. The main goal is to drive traffic from the pump to the store, where the margins are higher. I’ve found that the most effective way to make this evolution is to deploy the right tools for collecting, optimizing, and analyzing data.

Emerging thoughts and responses to industry shifts

Understanding data better helps you identify key trends faster and make sure your business can respond quickly. For example, the proliferation of foodservice offerings combined with petroleum and convenience has created higher expectations from consumers that you will continuously adapt your offerings.

To accomplish that, you must keep up with the latest technology. Here are just a few ways to get ahead of the technology curve in today’s dynamic marketplace:

1. Use loyalty to drive pump-to-store conversion: According to data that PDI has seen across a wide range of customer segments, loyalty members exhibit much more lucrative behavior patterns, with 57% purchasing gas and visiting the store compared to just 33% of non-loyalty members. On top of increased pump-to-store conversion rates, loyalty members also spend on average 30% more than non-loyalty members with each visit.
2. Leverage an intelligent fuel pricing strategy that translates to sustainable margins: Your fuel pricing strategies have the power to make an enormous difference on your bottom line. Finding the fuel pricing sweet spot—that delicate balance between volumes and margins—is tough. Forward-thinking retailers are using artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities in their fuel pricing to set the optimal price. With this advanced technology, they can compare volumes across price points, predict competitor pricing positions, and better utilize site data. The result: achieving volume and margin targets while pricing in a competitive and consumer-oriented manner.
3. Optimize your fuel supply chain to reduce operating costs: Data-backed fuel logistics solutions simplify management of complex deliveries across the entire fuel and petroleum ecosystem. Having real-time visibility into every aspect of your operations helps increase transparency and compliance throughout your organization. Leveraging that transparency and your data can add multiple layers of optimization—helping you deliver the right amount of product, at the right time, at the lowest possible cost.
4. Turn data into income: Chances are, you have enough data from your operations. But after talking to my peers in the region, I’ve observed different levels of maturity in getting the full value out of that data. It all starts by breaking down the data silos in our industry, making data actionable to optimize decision-making that translates directly to the bottom line. Turn your data into insights that generate income!
5. Don’t forget about cybersecurity: With an ever-expanding threat landscape, highly distributed businesses like yours are increasingly at risk. And while there are many security service providers who want to help, it’s always better to have someone at your side who thoroughly understands the intricacies and specific needs of the fuel and convenience industry.

A general theme throughout APFI Forum was the continuing need for focus, health, and resilience. A focused offering with targeted customers is required. Employee health and avoiding burnout is vital to continued success. And resilience is mandatory for surviving in a difficult economic climate.

Looking beyond one’s “fence”

As we navigate the latest convenience store industry trends, it’s important to look beyond regional boundaries and embrace global knowledge exchange—just like a dear friend and customer of mine from Australia did a few weeks ago when visiting the PDI Connections Live event in Washington, DC. By sharing knowledge and resources across regions, we can collectively transform the fuel and convenience industry on a global basis.

Want more industry insights?

To explore additional industry trends and insights, download the latest reports from PDI and GasBuddy.

Position your business for continued success

By “Connecting Convenience” across the industry ecosystem, PDI can help you and your business succeed regardless of what market dynamics you face. Contact us today to learn how we can help you transform your business.

Pre-register for PDI Connections Live 2025

Following an information-packed Connections Live 2024 event, you can now pre-register for Connections Live 2025 in Denver, Colorado. Don’t miss your chance to experience the industry’s premier training and networking event in person.

Pre-register Today

If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve likely noticed how extreme weather conditions gripping Scandinavia and parts of Europe this winter have caused widespread disruptions in both businesses and personal lives. The same challenges have played out in other parts of the world, such as the northeastern United States.

Even though we’re well aware of the difficulties extreme weather can create, we aren’t always prepared to deal with them. Yet these weather disruptions threaten to interfere with the best laid plans for fuel logistics. This includes the transportation of raw materials from refineries to critical storage and loading points, along with the distribution of fuel to petrol stations.

In this blog I explore the potential impacts of logistics disruptions on the fuel supply chain, share best practices for haulers and petrol station operators, and explain why a comprehensive fuel logistics and pricing solution is indispensable in times of uncertainty.

Examples of common disruptions

There are many types of potential fuel logistics disruptions that we simply can’t predict:

• Extreme cold, along with snow and ice storms, can cause road closures even as it increases consumer demand and consumption of heating oil. Deliveries can be cancelled or delayed, creating a backlog that can take weeks to erase.
• Extended droughts and dry seasons can lower the water level of rivers and lakes, making it difficult or impossible for tankers and barges to navigate. Having to reroute vessels or reduce loads further increases transportation costs, puts pressure on retail margins, and impacts product availability at fuel terminals.
• The same issues can occur during flooding, when water levels are too high for vessels to pass beneath the lowest bridges. Flooding also impacts land transportation, including infrastructure damage to bridges.
• Instability caused by geopolitical strife can create both logistical and transportation challenges. The continuing war in Ukraine and recent attacks on ships carrying crude oil through the Red Sea have caused widespread fluctuations in fuel supply—with price spikes driving operators to maintain lower inventory levels.
• Cyberattacks such as the one that shut down the Colonial pipeline can create consumer panic and cause station run-outs as consumers rush to fill their tanks.

What to do: Best practices for haulers and station operators

With haulers facing disruption across transportation networks, petrol stations in affected areas often experience delays—or shortages—in their fuel deliveries. To avoid this predicament, both haulers and petrol station operators must be prepared to adapt swiftly to new developments.

To effectively manage unforeseen events, you need the tools to adapt faster. One of the keys to success is ensuring that you have reliable and agile software solutions that provide greater operational flexibility. Here are four must-have capabilities you need:

1. Real-time monitoring: Utilize advanced fuel logistics software to monitor your trucks, shipments, and fuel sales in real time. Stay informed about the location and status of each delivery and changing consumer behavior, allowing for proactive decision-making in response to changing weather and road conditions.
2. Route optimization: Leverage the power of route optimization algorithms to plan the most efficient and safe routes. These algorithms should help you navigate around road closures and avoid high-risk areas to ensure timely deliveries.
3. Streamlined communications: Establish clear communication channels between haulers, drivers, and petrol station operators. Especially in times of disruption, regular updates on delivery schedules and potential delays are crucial for effective planning and resource allocation.
4. Contingency planning: Develop robust contingency plans for unexpected events. Having alternative routes, backup suppliers, emergency response protocols, and the ability to quickly adjust fuel prices can make a significant difference in managing logistics disruptions with minimal impact to your operations.

The vital role of fuel logistics software

With over 40 years of experience in the fuel and convenience industry, PDI understands that comprehensive fuel logistics and pricing solutions are a necessity in good times and times of crisis. State-of-the-art logistics software solutions can help fuel distributors and operators navigate through challenges seamlessly.

With features like real-time tracking, route optimization, and comprehensive analytics, data-driven solutions can provide a single source of truth across your logistics ecosystem to help you:

• Increase visibility over your operations
• Efficiently manage inventory
• Influence product flow and consumer behavior
• Streamline scheduling with logistics scheduling and dispatch solutions
• Simplify workforce automation with in-truck solutions
• Analyze “what if” scenarios to adjust your strategies

Agility to prepare for whatever comes next

By adopting best practices and leveraging advanced fuel logistics software, both haulers and petrol station operators can navigate through even the most challenging disruptions and provide a steady supply of fuel to meet consumer demand.

Contact us today to discover how PDI solutions can help you prepare, stay connected, and thrive with your fuel distribution operations.

Marcel Steigerwald is Director of Product Management, EP, at PDI Technologies. You can connect with him here.

How will fuel prices trend in 2024? “GasBuddy’s 2024 Fuel Outlook” forecasts what’s to come at the pump during the year ahead.  

You’ll find: 

• Predictions for the national average price of gasoline and diesel in 2024 
• Forecasts for the highest and lowest yearly prices by state  
• How much Americans are projected to spend on gasoline in 2024 
• Insights and commentary on seasonal and geopolitical factors affecting gas prices 

In the ever-evolving landscape of transportation and fuels, one trend is accelerating at an electrifying pace—the rise in electric vehicle (EV) sales. Although the growth is substantial, and the emphasis on the coming energy transition is certainly important, the reality is that internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are king and will remain so for the foreseeable future. 

Today, only about 1% of vehicles on the road are electric, although a recent GasBuddy survey revealed that 39% of respondents said they are more interested in owning an EV than they were last year. As retailers and consumers alike consider the balance between investments in petroleum and electricity, the question arises: What’s the future of fuel? 

The state of fuel today 

Looking back at the last several years of fuel sales reveals the ever-changing dynamics facing the petroleum industry. Record high gasoline prices in 2022 and increased political desire to invest in new technologies have combined to accelerate interest in transitioning to cleaner energy. However, recent decreases after 2022’s record-setting gasoline prices could slow the pace of EV adoption. Consumers’ desire to wait for new battery technologies, such as solid-state batteries, could also slow the pace of adoption. 

Gas stations have been an iconic fixture on American roads for decades, and there are currently over 150,000 in the US alone. Many stations have begun to adopt EV infrastructure and charge points, but compared to the over 350 million gallons of motor fuel consumed in the US every day, it’s clear that the bulk of EV charging currently happens at home for most EV drivers. While many are looking to EVs as an immediate, sustainable solution, the infrastructure to support long-range electric travel remains fragmented. That factor, both in the near and long term, is where the convenience store comes into play. 

What’s next for fuel and EV adoption? 

As we look toward the future of fuel, EVs will play an integral role. There’s no doubt that EV adoption is growing—in some states, we’ve seen an increase in EV ownership of over 400% since 2018, and approximately 7% of new vehicle sales are now electric (source: Cox Automotive). 

By 2035, about 45% of new car sales could be electric, according to a recent industry analysis (projections based on PDI estimates and IEA’s Announced Pledges Scenario). At this rate, nearly half of the cars on the road would be electric by 2050. When you consider the 350 million gallons of fuel currently sold in the US in just one day, 45 to 50% of that total certainly makes a large impact. 

With such rapid market changes, what else can we expect as EVs increasingly enter the picture? 

• Effects on gasoline demand: It will be a gradual process, but increased EV adoption does have the potential to affect the way we consume petroleum products. The future of batteries is constantly changing, with manufacturers also introducing PHEVs that are electric but also can fall back to gasoline to charge the vehicle’s battery. 
• Policy changes: We’ve already seen a strong focus on sustainability and EV policy on the federal level, and in some states bans on ICE vehicle production are already in place. Policy will be a huge factor when it comes to EVs, providing businesses with more opportunity and financial assistance to develop EV charging infrastructure. 
• Evolving retailer strategy: As more convenience stores adopt EV charging and invest in new infrastructure, we’ll see shifts in strategy, particularly in stores. While the average fuel customer spends less than five minutes filling up, an opportunity presents itself to re-invent the convenience store to cater to electric vehicle owners with longer dwell times. 

How to prepare 

Although a completely electric driving future may be decades away, retailers and wholesalers should start preparing to better serve their customers who are increasingly adopting EVs. Many large c-store operators have already begun investing in new infrastructure with an emphasis on charging stations to meet this evolving demand. 

To thrive in this rapidly evolving environment, companies within the fuel industry must embrace change, invest in innovation, and pivot toward solutions that serve their customers’ evolving needs. Those who recognize this and adapt accordingly will be best positioned for success in the years to come. 

Identify what factors you can control to mitigate their impact

Fluctuations in fuel supply and demand are nothing new, but the breadth and immediacy of these fluctuations have become much more apparent in the last few years.

The ability of fuel retailers and wholesalers to navigate these fluctuations will go a long way in determining which brands will thrive and which ones will get left behind.

This white paper explains:

• The macro factors causing fluctuations
• Additional elements that can disrupt the market
• What steps you can take to prepare and adapt for any type of change

Join our expert as he introduces PDI Fuel Pricing B2B, built specifically to handle the diversity and complexity of B2B fuel. This solution combines the power of an intelligent pricing engine with PDI’s industry expertise. Automate your pricing processes and eliminate human error with a solution made to handle it all.  

Executive Overview

Industry: Convenience Retail

Size: 472 Stores

Solution: PDI Fuel Pricing Retail

Business Challenges

• Lacked a price optimization tool
• Difficulty integrating with critical internal and external systems
• Information silos created limited operational visibility across multi-site operation
• Needed near real-time, multi-source insights

Solution Overview – PDI Fuel Pricing

Through our deep understanding of their unique business problems, we help retailers and wholesale B2B fuels marketers around the globe improve performance. With PDI Fuel Pricing, determine the best pricing strategies that are individualized for your business and customize sales and promotion priorities based on trends and analytics.

Read more about PDI Fuel Pricing

Customer Results

• Realized substantial time savings due to automated and centrally-managed fuel pricing program
• Eliminated information silos resulting in better site-level visibility across the entire operation
• Developed an individualized fuel pricing strategy utilizing near real-time data and actionable insights to significantly improve results
• Seamless integration with internal and external systems resulting in improved data integrity

A Retail Fuel Pricing Panel Discussion

Hear from a panel of PDI global fuel pricing experts as they discuss the benefits of a retail fuel pricing solution. You’ll learn how to transform your business with the power of a pricing engine, best practices, and new ways to elevate your business.

You’ll also hear about current industry challenges and the benefits of a pricing solution, beyond price optimization, in any kind of market.