UPM-Biofore-Magazine-1-2015-EN

“Our sourcing company is constantly working to improve the quality

and environmental performance of our fuel products.”

Tiina Vehmala-Viksten

andmore energy efficient. Among its recent improvements are new lighting solutions that reduce electricity consumption. Pit-stop logic Customers are always interested in the origin of the products and services they buy, but where they stop to refuel ultimately depends on where they happen to be when it’s time for a top-up and the customer loyalty scheme to which they belong. “The decisions people make in their everyday lives are usually quite rational. People are less keen to drive to a particular service station a little further away in order to buy a certain product or get a special price than is commonly assumed. After choosing where to refuel, the next important thing for the customer is trusting that the products on sale are of the highest quality,” she adds. “In the end, it is the people who need the break more than the car. Today’s engines are more ener- gy-efficient, andmodern cars are able to cover more miles with fewer refuelling stops. Meanwhile, the

sales volumes of fuel products are gradually falling — this is a common trend that can be seen across the market.” Diesel on the grow Vehmala-Viksten predicts diesel fuels will remain popular for years to come. “Diesel is the fuel that heavy vehicles run on, and diesel cars are very popular among people who drive a lot. I believe diesel will be around for a long time.” Important developments are set to take place in the near future with regard to the rawmaterials in diesel fuels. “Today, we have more andmore cars running on alternative sources of energy instead of the tradi- tional fossil-based fuels. We need to provide services and fuel for the drivers of those cars, too,” she adds. ABC’s network comprises 437 stations, 136 of which are service stations. The rest are self-service refuelling points.

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