Halfords confirms Viking and McConechy’s Warrington warehouse sale
Family-run business Capital Tyres, an independent company established over 20 years ago, became part of the Halfords Commercial Fleet Services operation recently (Photo: Capital Tyres)
Following the news that Bond International is set to acquire the Viking tyre wholesale business, Halfords Group executives have confirmed to Tyres & Accessories that, Bond will indeed acquire the Viking and Birkenshaw tyre wholesale businesses. At the same time, Halfords Group commercial director/director Halfords Commercial Fleet Services, Robin Shaw clarified that the Bond acquisitions only include the McConechy’s warehouse in Warrington which came into the Halfords group as part of its McConechy’s acquisition in 2019. Meanwhile, Halfords continues to invest in its Commercial Fleet Services operations which have grown out of Halfords’s acquisitions of the members of ULM – Universal, Lodge and McConechy’s.
Indeed, Halfords recently acquired Capital Tyres in Northallerton as part of its plans to fill strategic geographical gaps in its national service. Family-run business Capital Tyres is an independent company established over 20 years ago. Prior to the acquisition, Capital supplied “both the retail and trade industries in car, agricultural and commercial tyres”, according to the company’s website.
Being based in Northallerton enables the company to “carry out work throughout the region”, a geographic advantage that appealed to Halfords, with Robin Shaw stating that the business “fits nicely between the company’s existing Gateshead and Wakefield operations”.
The acquisition is also said to fit in with Halfords Commercial Fleet Services’ ongoing investment and growth plans, according to Shaw. So does that mean that further acquisitions are on the horizon? “I certainly hope so”, Shaw replied.
The history of Birkenshaw International
Returning to Bond’s acquisition of the Viking wholesale business, Viking International is a well-known tyre wholesale brand in the UK distribution business. But for those that want to know the backstory behind the businesses that are being bought by Bond International here’s a brief overview of the Birkenshaw operation.
Birkenshaw Distributors Ltd was established in 1978 in Glasgow to distribute tyres to independent retailers and Smiley Tyres & Exhausts. In 1980, Birkenshaw Distributors Ltd was renamed Birkenshaw International and started distributing Gislaved tyres in Scotland. Three years later, Birkenshaw International acquired a Preston-based wholesaler in 1983.
In 1986, Liverpool wholesaler, Northern Tyre Service was acquired by Viking Tyres (UK) Ltd who also secured the distribution of Gislaved Tyres with Birkenshaw International continuing to have the exclusive Gislaved distributorship in Scotland.
In 1990, Birkenshaw International opened a warehouse in Liverpool. And then in 1991, Birkenshaw International is the first UK wholesaler to sell car tyres with a Lifetime Guarantee.
Between 1992 and 1997 Birkenshaw International expanded to include warehouses in Edinburgh, Manchester & Gateshead.
In 1999 Viking Tyres (UK) Ltd sold 1 million tyres in a single trading year and a year later Birkenshaw International sold 1,000,000 tyres in a single trading year.
Birkenshaw International and Viking Tyres (UK) Ltd merged in 2000 to create the Viking International we know of today.
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