Continental Wins 2 TAFF Awards at 80th NTDA Dinner

Continental Tyre Group won Tyre Manufacturer of the Year and the Industry Advertiser’s award at 2009 Tyre And Fast Fit (TAFF) Awards last night. The TAFF Awards ceremony, which formed part of the NTDA’s 80th annual dinner at the Manchester Deansgate Hilton also saw leading UK wholesaler BITS extend its tally to nine Wholesaler of the Year Awards.

Accepting the company’s Manufacturer of the Year award, Continental Tyre Group managing director, David Smith told Tyres & Accessories: “We are delighted that our work and efforts have been recognised by the industry. I am particularly proud of my team who work hard to push standards forward and make us the leading brand in the industry.”

Continental’s second award of the evening was the Industry Advertising Award (sponsored by Tyres & Accessories/Tyrepress.com), which was received by marketing director Guy Frobisher. “The Great Days Out marketing campaign was our biggest yet. It was a great team effort, from the marketing side with advertising, trade marketing, PR and online all working together to the sales team getting a record number of retailers involved,” Guy Frobisher commented.

The 2009 Innovation Award went to Northamptonshire-based Pro-Align for the company’s Hunter Smartweight balancing system. And this year’s Tyre & Aftermarket Supplier of the Year went to Auto 4 Ltd, while Vellco Tyre Control won the 2009 Environment Award. Michelin Tyre Plc managing director Jim Rickard’s contribution to the tyre industry was acknowledged with the presentation of the chairman’s award.