Although occupying an extensive site at the gateway to Marlborough’s Business Park just off the Salisbury Road, this substantial facility offering BP Petrol and services, Budgens supermarket and a Subway fast food outlet is one of only six sites owned and managed by Oxford-based independent family business, Fraser Retail.
As with any tightly-run independent organisation those who own the business are never to far from the customer so keeping close to what happens on the forecourt and in the shop is one of the keys to their success.
“We see ourselves as being independent rather than local” said Nick Fraser. “When we arrived in Marlborough we set out to provide a quality operation with a blue chip fuel brand – BP, a recognised supermarket facility with Budgens and excellent fast food with Subway”. “A quality operation with consistency” he added.
“Being a small independent organisation we are close to the customer” Nick explained. “It’s a lifestyle choice, but run as a business itself”. Since the launch the Budgens supermarrket, Subway and petrol sales have grown steadily. A key feature of what is now a very active Business Park area, which attracts business to the site, but the site itself attracts customers to the rest of the Business Park as well. It all goes hand-in-hand. The new Redrow housing development cropping up across the Sailisbury Road will make this once quiet area of Marlborough ever more important to the economy of the Town.
“We try to look after our customers” stated Nick. ”We know that there is competition, which is always good for both the customer and the retailer, but we’re trying to do something for our members which actually gives them savings and offers above what they would otherwise get, and this is our Platinum Card, which gives every customer 2p per litre off fuel as well as other benefits, and enables us to communicate with them, informing about charity events, special offers, competitions etc., anything that helps make our customers our own.”
Frasers started out back in 1954, launched by Bob Fraser and it’s now Nick and cousin Jonathan who are the third generation of managers within the family. Marlborough is one of six sites operated by the Group, all now offering BP fuel, and either a Budgens or Spar supermarket to complement the petrol side of the business. Over the years the Group has won numerous awards for their sites – in 2012 they were awarded the Retail Industry Independent Retailer Of The Year Award, the first time that this had been won by a business with a forecourt.
“We set out to offer the best facilities found on forecourts in the UK and continuously look to improve our business through effective communication, great value shop offers and the best personnel.” said Nick. ”We’re a family business that enjoys what we do, we’ll continue to build new sites and it’s my grandafther’s, my father’s, my uncle’s and my passion that drives the business forward.”
