EG On The Move, a subsidiary of EG Retail Services, is a leading name in the petrol forecourt and convenience retail industry. The company has effectively combined traditional fueling with shopping and fast-food services, including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, to cater to the needs of today’s consumers.

We spoke with Neil Findlay, Development Director at EG Group UK, to discuss his experience using Searchland to identify profitable new sites.

Challenges before Searchland:

• Costly and time-consuming due diligence processes
• Delays in receiving alerts about new planning applications nearby
• Lack of a unified tool for accessing nationwide market trends and data

One of EG On The Move’s biggest issues was commissioning lengthy due diligence reports on every potential site they found, which cost significant time and money, as the team had to travel to potential sites nationwide. With Searchland’s Sourcing Tool, EG On The Move can conduct these evaluations online within minutes, allowing them to “separate the wheat from the chaff” from the outset, before spending money on unviable sites.

“The platform shows us instantly whether a site is worth progressing with or not; it’s saved the team an obscene amount of time”

EG's previous land-sourcing platform was difficult to use, and extra charges were applied for new bespoke features - starkly contrasting to Searchland's approach. Searchland works alongside clients, enhancing the platform based on their needs and specific requirements.

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We asked Neil what it was like migrating to Searchland:

“Switching platform was easy. We no longer have to re-learn the platform every time we log in, and the user experience just makes sense”

Searchland’s success is not solely due to its technology and user experience. It is also due to the support we offer all users via our proactive customer success team, whether online, over the phone, or in person.

“The customer support from Searchland is first-class; I can’t see us moving away from the platform anytime soon.”

Favourite features:

• Live Planning alerts: EG often discovered too late that someone was building a drive-thru or petrol station in the same area. This feature keeps them informed about nearby planning applications in real-time.
• Commercial data: Comparables keep EG up-to-speed on the latest market trends, accurately reflecting the actual value of sites. This data helps them propose appropriate market offers and gain insight into competitors' activities.
• Sourcing tool: This tool assists EG in identifying suitable sites for development, saving both time and money by reducing the need to conduct due diligence on unsuitable locations.

With Searchland, EG On The Move can swiftly pinpoint sites that align with their investment criteria, allowing their team to concentrate on deals that matter rather than wasting time on unsuitable sites.

What’s next for EG? 

EG On the Move have ambitious plans to grow its estate significantly through acquisitions over the next five years. Searchland is proud to be a key catalyst for this ambitious goal. 

Quotes from Neil Findlay, Development Director at EG Group UK

‍Want to see how Searchland can help you source sites and access the UK's most accurate land and property data? Book a demo with our team to see how.