We are pleased to announce that effective from 1 August 2019 trade association The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) has changed its name to UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA).
The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers was created in 1979, rising from the ashes of The National Oil Distributor Association (NODA) and has passionately served the interest of its members since then.
With only three brand refreshes in those 40 years, its management committee has taken the opportunity to mark the 40th anniversary with a name change that means more to the end consumer as well as to better fit the future liquid fuel industry.
UKIFDA’s aims are closely aligned to its new strapline, ‘Representing the best in Liquid Fuels.’ It is an association of professionals working in an industry delivering the highest standards of quality, safety and customer service. The core purpose continues to be to attract and support the best distributors in the UK and Ireland and to help them run their businesses safely, sustainably and successfully thereby ensuring consumers receive the best product and the best possible service from UKIFDA members.
“The industry in which we operate has undergone tremendous changes over the past four decades and the association has continually adapted over that time to ensure that it represents, supports and informs its growing membership. It was time now for the association to move on and rebrand. This will ensure that it continues in the same vein, supporting the UK and Ireland changing energy landscape” says Guy Pulham, UKIFDA Chief Executive.
“After 40 successful years, our management committee made it clear that it was important that the Association didn’t rest on its laurels. We’ve traditionally been known fairly widely for our very successful trade show FPS EXPO but behind the scenes we are an active lobbying organisation, whether that’s on issues affecting our members or the 1.5m households across the UK and 686,000 across Ireland who use heating oil, or representing our members interests in areas such as fuel duty, H&S, training and future energy strategy.
“In considering the name change it was important that our name should reflect the fact that we are an association not a federation and our members distribute not supply. Including both UK and Ireland in the new name highlights that our members operate across both the UK and Republic of Ireland and that both are important to us. Liquid fuels are key if we are to reach the government’s decarbonisation targets and in a way that meets the needs of the consumer too, and we wanted our support for this to be more obvious from our name – UKIFDA enables us to display all we stand for, simply and effectively,” adds Guy Pulham.
Alongside the change of name for the association the annual trade exhibition organised by the association, FPS EXPO will also be renamed UKIFDA EXPO.
The Association will be marking its 40th year with a Gala Dinner on 31 October 2019 at the skyline Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill in Birmingham which is located at the top of The Cube building in the Mailbox district with 360-degree panoramic views overlooking the city. Guest speaker for the evening is Cleric, broadcaster and former Communard Reverend Richard Coles and tickets will go on sale soon from UKIFDA.
1st August 2019
