Less than a year after the opening of the first BILLA NOW store, the 50th store at a bp service station on Laxenburgerstraße in Vienna is now already open for customers. This means that bp has converted an average of two service stations per week in Austria. The plan is to complete the project by the end of 2023 so that customers at all company-owned stations can enjoy the new diverse range of refreshing beverages, fresh fruit & vegetables, snacks for in-between meals, as well as bread, pastries, and other food and drugstore products. In addition to the refurbishment of the service station store, the company is also investing in the further development of the bistro area of the stations under bp's own Wild Bean Café brand. In addition, opening hours have been extended, especially at weekends, in order to meet customer demand more effectively. In this way, bp is consistently implementing the company's convenience growth strategy.
Customers enjoy the new store
Under the motto "Enjoy every day," the new convenience stores offer a diverse range of products both for a break on the go and for quick shopping nearby. The success of this concept is demonstrated by bp's internal market research results, according to which customers perceive the new store design as fresher, more modern and friendlier. As a thank-you, 50 customers received a filled shopping bag with shopping products as part of the opening of the 50th BILLA NOW store.
"The partnership with REWE is of outstanding importance for our convenience business," emphasizes Birgit Sommer, Retail Manager bp Austria. "bp holds a high-quality range of food and beverages, combined with great experiences for our customers. In the past, the convenience business was inseparable from the service station business, but today more and more customers are visiting our stores to store flexibly. The future of mobility is changing - and so are we. As the expansion of charging infrastructure opens up new opportunities, a strong convenience and food offering is important for customers given the longer dwell times." Convenience is part of bp's growth strategy, along with electromobility, hydrogen, bioenergy and renewables. The company plans to increase the number of strategic convenience locations - like this one in Vienna - to around 3,000 worldwide by 2030.
Jürgen Öllinger, CEO of REWE Großhandel GmbH, is also pleased with the success: "The rapid conversion of the stores and the satisfaction of the customers with our range of products show that we are on the right track with our partnership. The new concept developed jointly by REWE Wholesale and bp supports bp's convenience orientation in every respect: from the fast, uncomplicated delivery of fresh products to the modern brand image. In this way, bp has positioned itself optimally for the future."
