| Locations: | 3 |
| Introduced: | 2000 |
| Removed: | 2007 |
| Successors: | M&S Simply Food |
The RAC are associated with motorway services for their salesmen at the front, but what's less well-known is that they had a number of retail units at Extra's first service areas. These shops sold travel essentials such as breakdown kits and car chargers.
The stores closed and larger M&S Simply Food stores opened in their place.
As you might expect, the RAC have made several other appearances at motorway service areas. Moto sites all used to have an RAC stand with a telephone to request assistance provided in the middle of the building, while in the 1970s, the RAC were often provided with a small unit at each service area, often in its own kiosk.
The RAC worked with Trusthouse Forte to develop Motorway Rescue Service (MRS) in 1987. This involved taking over the existing vehicle repair workshop to provide a better standard of service, operated by RAC franchise partners. Nine initial sites were developed, with more opening after. It meant Forte didn't need to continue running the facility themselves or even negotiate directly with who they would outsource it to. Members of any motoring service were allowed to use it.
Locations
RAC shops used to be found at the following service areas:
- Cambridge (A14)
- Baldock (A1(M)/A1)
- Peterborough (A1(M)/A1)