Fuel stations to offer one-stop shopping

Fuel stations operated by companies like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) are increasingly looking at co-branding and space sharing to boost revenues. The idea is to offer a one-stop-shopping experience for customers and get them to make regular purchases at fixed places like a fuel station.  IOC has signed a collaboration agreement with Kishore Biyani’s Future Group to set up smaller formats of Big Bazaar stores in their petrol pumps.  “Under this agreement, wherever the Future Group sets up new malls, IOC could be offered space to set up a petrol pump. Likewise, whenever we set up a new petrol pump anywhere in India, we would offer space to the Future Group to perhaps set up a Big Bazaar food court, or its apparel store or build 2-3-storied smaller-format malls at IOC petrol pumps,” said G.C. Daga, marketing director of IOC. (January 1, 2007)