There’s been a lot of talk in the industry about the Fuel Finder scheme, and it’s no surprise why. With regulatory requirements, operational challenges, and a shifting competitive landscape, retailers want to be sure that they fully understand what Fuel Finder means for them.
At the moment, four key questions are circulating:
What exactly is the Fuel Finder scheme – and why now?
Following a detailed investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that competition in the fuel sector has weakened significantly since 2019, with supermarket fuel margins nearly doubling between 2019 and 2023, driving an extra £1.6 billion in costs for consumers in just one year.
To counter this, the CMA has recommended:
- The creation of a live, station-by-station fuel price tracking system, known as Fuel Finder
- The establishment of a statutory monitoring body to oversee pricing behaviour across the industry.
The UK government accepted these recommendations, with powers granted via the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, now in force. The Data (Use and Access) Bill, currently under consideration, will provide the legal framework. The launch is anticipated by the end of 2025, subject to legislative progress.
Fuel Finder aims to bring transparency, promote competition, and restore consumer trust, which is especially critical amid today’s cost-of-living crisis.
What’s at stake for UK-based fuel retailers – and what challenges lie ahead?
With Fuel Finder mandating real-time price disclosure to the regulator, the operational stakes are high:
- Accuracy and timing: Manual updates risk mistakes or prices being published that don’t match the pump.
- Compliance burden: The scheme doesn’t just demand data; it demands trustworthy, time-aligned data.
- Business risk: Non-compliance or delays could lead to reputational damage or penalties.
How can retailers confidently prepare and gain a strategic advantage?
By treating compliance as more than a box-ticking exercise, retailers can unlock wider benefits. Automating processes frees up time and reduces risk; seamless integration with existing systems minimises disruption; and greater transparency builds trust with both customers and regulators.
In this way, compliance becomes an opportunity to modernise operations and gain a competitive edge, not just a regulatory necessity.
And if you’re an EdgePetrol customer, you can also learn more here about the solution we are developing to help you automate compliance with these new rules, reduce operational burden, and minimise risk.
When will the Fuel Finder Scheme launch?
Fuel Finder is currently expected to launch by the end of 2025, though the government has stressed that this timeline remains dependent on parliamentary schedules and overall system readiness.
The rollout hinges on the successful passage of the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which will establish the legal framework required for implementation.
A similar initiative, PumpWatch, had originally been planned for 2024 but was delayed due to political shifts and legislative setbacks. With a new bill now moving forward, and the CMA already equipped with monitoring powers, 2025 is shaping up to be a decisive year for bringing Fuel Finder to market.
Want to learn more about EdgePetrol and how we can help your fuel retail business prepare for these legislation changes? Register your interest here.
