TAFF Award nominations announced

With the process for the NTDA 2011 Tyre & Fast-Fit Awards (TAFF) Awards is well under way, the names of the finalists can now be revealed. NTDA members were invited to submit nominations in the five categories of the awards and the most popular companies go forward to the final voting stage. The short-listed finalists, by category (* denotes 2010 winners) are:

Tyre Manufacturer of the Year

• Bridgestone UK *
• Continental Tyre Group
• Hankook Tyre UK
• Michelin Tyre
• Pirelli Tyres UK

Wholesaler of the Year

• B.I.T.S.
• Bond International
• Grouptyre
• Micheldever Tyre Services
• Stapleton’s Tyre Services *
• Viking International

Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year

• Apaseal Ltd *
• Autogem Motor Concepts
• Euro Car Parts
• Harvie Tyres td
• Rema Tip Top Automotive Ltd

Environment Award

• Bandvulc Tyres Ltd
• Continental Tyre Group
• Michelin Tyre
• Vellco Tyre Control
• Yokohama HPT Ltd

Industry Advertising Campaign Award

• Continental Tyre Group
• Hankook Tyre UK
• Infinity Tyres Europe
• Michelin Tyres
• Pirelli Tyre UK

Here’s how the NTDA presented the nominations via its e-zine service:

First up is the “Tyre Manufacturer of the Year” category and there are some familiar faces on the short list. Last year’s winner – Bridgestone UK – made it, as did previous winners Michelin Tyre and Continental Tyre Group and they are joined by Pirelli UK (no strangers to making the final five) and, for the second year running, Hankook Tyre UK.

Familiar names too in the “Wholesaler of the Year” section, which sees last year’s five finalists – B.I.T.S., Bond International, Grouptyre, Micheldever and 2010 winners Stapleton’s , joined by Viking International . This category is always very competitive, with customers being encouraged to vote for their favourite supplier.

Another competitive category is that of “Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year”, with many of the companies regularly making the short list year after year. This year there are three such companies – Apaseal (winners in 2010) , Harvie Tyres and Rema Tip Top Automotive – and two new finalists: Autogem Motor Concepts and Euro Car Parts . It will be interesting to see what impact the new faces might have.

If many of the categories contain familiar names, the same cannot be said for the “Environment” award. Yes, the names are familiar, but not in this context, as not a single one of last year’s Environment short list nominees made the final five this time around, so we are guaranteed a new winner for 2011. Three of the finalists this year are tyre manufacturers – Continental Tyre Group, Michelin Tyre and Yokohama HPT – plus there is one retreader – Bandvulc Tyres – and a waste collection company; Vellco Tyre Control.

The final category for which the tyre industry can vote is that of “Tyre Industry Advertising Campaign”, sponsored by Tyres & Accessories magazine, the NTDA’s media partner for the TAFF Awards. Continental will be keen to take this award for the third year in a row, but faces stiff competition from the other four finalists, who are Hankook Tyre, Infinity Tyres Europe (a first-time finalist), Michelin Tyre and Pirelli Tyres UK . Campaigns can be from any medium; print, TV, radio or Internet.

The “Innovation” category is decided in a different manner from those above; instead of being voted on by the tyre industry, companies can submit a product or service that they feel is genuinely innovative and a panel of industry experts draw up a short list and pick the eventual winner. Last year Michelin scooped the award with its X One MaxiTrailer tyre, but the short list included a wide variety of products and services from all sectors of the industry.

Related news:

• NTDA adds tyre retail gong to TAFF Awards line up

• 2011 TAFF Awards to be Held in Birmingham

• NTDA Chairman: Labelling, Legislation and Technology are ‘Challenges to Conquer’