Reports today that 100 rural filling stations have closed due to Coronavirus. Clearly in these times of reduced travel, people are more likely to stick with the supermarkets.
I suspect it not because staff are self-isolating, but twofold - one, a lack of business because, as we've said, most people will get their petrol when they go shopping, and the other, because many small indie filling stations don't have many, if any, 'pay at pump' machines, meaning they'll have to make provision for extra safety measures when people pay at the kiosk.
I still maintain that most people wouldn't be that bothered about going a little way to get petrol separately from shopping, especially as it often is more useful in rural areas and also can give the car a nice run out to keep it in good nick - it's not as though they'll be doing that much extra mileage over the long run as a result.
I think there is merit to some (not all) supermarkets looking to help their local rival filling stations, plus it would help reduce congestion in and around the supermarkets and free up some staff for in-store/marshalling duties. As I said, supermarkets rarely make a profit from selling fuel - they are there to get people in the shop, which isn't needed at the moment.
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