Still going strong: 4×4 tyres continue to overcome obstacles
While the UK economy as a whole has taken a battering over the past two years or more, the overall size of the passenger car tyre market has remained relatively stable, which is good news for the 4x4 sector too. In 2010 the UK car, 4x4 and van tyre market totalled some 33 million units. There is always some dispute about the precision of figures like this – the argument usually focuses on questions like Where do you draw the line between 4x4 and four-wheel Navarro-style van? Do the figures include grey imports? How many part worn tyres are sold each year? and how do you know that? But while you can determine what you define a 4x4 tyre as by product size, there will always be a degree of uncertainty when it comes to things like grey imports and part worn sales. The received wisdom is that annual part worn sales total something like 2 million tyres a year, but there is some support for the figure being considerably higher during 2009 and 2010 due to increased cost pressure on motorists during the credit crunch.
Continue ReadingMicheldever signs General Tire exclusivity deal with Continental Tyre Group
Micheldever Tyre Services and Continental Tyre Group have signed an exclusive agreement for the sales of the General Tire brand in the UK. Formalised on 8 December 2010, the news follows 16 years that have seen the leading wholesaler develop the prestigious General 4x4 brand in the UK market and subsequently introducing the passenger and van range to the UK in 2010.
Continue ReadingHankook UK focuses on brand, ups TV advertising budget 50%
After nine years of at the helm of Hankook Tyres UK Ltd, years that have seen the company grow from the position of a newcomer into a force to be reckoned, Richard Page has announced his retirement from the role of managing director. Tyres & Accessories understands that he will continue in a consultative role throughout what has been a pre-planned and progressive changeover into the capable hands of new MD Gang Seung Lee. In a recent visit to the Hankook UK headquarters T&A met with Mr Lee, who is commonly known as Tony Lee in the UK, and a freshly reshuffled management team to find about more about what’s in store for South Korean tyre manufacturer in 2011.
Continue ReadingFormula One Autocentres offers 4-wheel alignment with Hunter
Formula One Autocentres has announced that it is offering four wheel alignment service, using leading alignment machinery brand Hunter’s products, supplied by their UK distributor Pro-Align, at 13 of its branches, based mainly in the Midlands and the South of England. F1 Autocentres says it uses “world-leading Hunter garage alignment equipment” because they offer “accurate four wheel diagnosis and re-alignment, including personalised print out showing before and after measurements.”
Continue ReadingBlackcircles Prepares for Volume Growth through Tesco Partnership
Following a gestation period of some five years, a new retail venture entered the UK tyre market in January 2011. Blackcircles.com has announced the launch of Tesco-Tyres.com in partnership with Britain’s leading retailer, a venture that offers access to Tesco’s massive nationwide customer base – including its 13 million Clubcard holders. Speaking with Tyres & Accessories, Blackcircles.com founder and managing director Mike Welch reflects on what the realisation of this long-held goal means for his company and what the future for Blackcircles may look like.
Continue ReadingJorge Crespo New Infinity Europe General Manager
Infinity Tyres Europe Ltd has appointed Jorge Crespo as the company’s new European general manager. Crespo joins Infinity following nine years at Cooper Tire Europe where, as sales and marketing director, he was a board member. Prior to joining the Cooper Avon operation in Melksham, Crespo worked in the rubber compounding industry. However, having trained as a solicitor before entering the business world, he also brings a level of legal awareness into his new management position. Crespo took up his new role on 4 January.
Continue Reading‘Financial Irregularities’ Caused Broadway’s Demise
During November one member of Grouptyre entered administration and four more formed a joint venture to maintain supply to national customers. Now that the joint venture is poised to make another acquisition, this time of WJ Wood & Sons, Tyres & Accessories exclusively interviewed Grouptyre managing director Karl Naylor in order find out more about the reasons behind the recent events. Needless to say a lot has been happening within Grouptyre over the last few weeks, with what Naylor diplomatically described as “unforeseen problems at one of its larger member companies…resulting in rapid changes having to be put in place to maintain its national coverage and service to customers.” However, while the market officially got wind of the story in November, it appears Grouptyre’s members had been making every effort to secure Broadway’s future as far back as the summer. At this point plans were being discussed to address concerns that Broadway’s financial performance was weaker than Grouptyre was comfortable with.
Continue ReadingFirst Look at Stapleton’s New Erdington ‘Super Hub’
Stapleton’s Tyre Services latest and greatest 100,000 square foot warehouse has been developed to be the leading tyre wholesaler’s UK “super hub.” Positioned near the literal mid-point of England, the new depot is central to the company’s existing warehouses. Previously the largest of these were developed to be Northern and Southern hubs, but now they will be fed by the large Birmingham location, which is coincidently located a stone’s throw away from Goodyear Dunlop’s Tyre Fort in the Erdington area, Birmingham. Tyres & Accessories recently met Ashley Croft, head of Stapleton’s supply chain, for an exclusive first look at the new facility. The first thing you notice after you arrive inside the Erdington, Birmingham location – which is impossible to miss owing to the largest Stapleton’s signage in the company fixed to the road facing wall outside – is that the new super hub is already stocked with a full-range of about 3500 stock keeping units (SKUs).
Continue ReadingTrelleborg to Acquire UK’s Watts Tyre Group
Trelleborg has signed an agreement for the acquisition of the UK’s Watts Tyre Group through its Trelleborg Wheel Systems business area, an action the Swedish company believes will strengthen its industrial tyre segment position through geographic expansion and an increased presence in the aftermarket. Watts has annual sales of approximately £27.4 million and about 230 employees. The purchase consideration amounts to approximately £21 million.
Continue ReadingReport Links Marubeni with £650 million Kwik-Fit Sale
Just over a month after the news that Kwik-Fit owners PAI had appointed Credit Suisse to analyse the options for the sale of the company, newspaper reports have linked Japanese trading house Marubeni with a possible purchase. Marubeni’s other UK interests include ownership of Yokohama HPT tyres and a network of 24 car showrooms through its Marubeni Automotive Ltd subsidiary. It is also said to own one of the largest dealers for Toyota and Mazda in Europe. Despite the reports, a company spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories that Kwik-Fit is “not in advanced discussions with anyone, specifically not Marubeni.” Rather the reported sale of the company is said to be in the very early stages, with the timeframe to completion unclear at this time.
Continue ReadingBroadway Bought By Traxx Tyres
Less than two weeks after former Grouptyre member Broadway Tyres went into administration, new owner Traxx Tyres has announced its purchase of the company’s assets. Tyres & Accessories understands that Traxx Tyres, which is new to the UK market, is connected to successful tyre wholesaling in Australia. It is fair to say that Traxx has taken the British market by surprise with its first UK acquisition, reportedly outbidding competing offers for Broadway Tyres. Sources close to the negotiations told T&A that Broadway will not be a member of Grouptyre under its new ownership and that instead the national wholesale operation will be running its own logistics operation from High Wycombe in order to maintain continuity of supply to its customers and in competition with Traxx Tyres.
Continue ReadingTWG sees Continuation of 2010 Trends into 2011
Yesterday saw the Tyre Wholesalers Group Annual Lunch held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull. At the event, TWG chair Ashley Croft reviewed the year in UK tyre wholesaling, saying that “TWG members are fortunate within the replacement side of our market to have enjoyed a year of consistent market size, although the busy first half of the year has been balanced by a quieter period following.” Croft also looked forward to 2011, in which he forecasted “a year of challenges” for TWG members, commented on the rising interest in winter – or cold weather – tyres in the UK and the long-term potential effects of a consistent, large seasonal market; the persistently low availability of product throughout the year; his concerns about tyre labelling; and the education of non-NTDA member retailers. Below, tyrepress.com presents the transcription of his speech.
Continue ReadingPoint S UK Growth Ahead of Schedule
The plans of international tyre buying and marketing cooperative Point S to fill in the gaps in its European market map with a UK operation are reported to be “ahead of schedule.” In less than a year since membership talks began and just four months after the news of Point S (UK) Ltd formation was announced, the company’s plans for the establishment of one of the largest retail networks in Britain are said to be running so well that they could meet next year’s target before the end of 2010.
Continue ReadingBroadway Tyres Enters Administration
High Wycombe-based wholesaler Broadway Tyres entered administration yesterday (4 November) after being officially declared insolvent the day before. The company is understood to have faced cashflow problems related to significant debts. Bearing in mind the fact that Broadway is a member of the 13-company Grouptyre operation, what affect is the move is likely to be on Grouptyre in general and Broadway’s customers in particular? A source close to Grouptyre told Tyres & Accessories that customers won’t notice any disruption in either service or supply as the collective is working closely with both Broadway and the administrators to ensure it is “business as usual” for customers. The source also suggested that Grouptyre will be continue to honour its supply agreements post-administration whatever the outcome of this period is.
Continue ReadingMichelin Fill Up with Air Campaign “Helps Nearly 5,000” Reduce Emissions
Michelin says it has helped nearly 5,000 motorists save fuel this summer as part of its annual Fill Up With Air campaign. The event has been touring the UK since May and shows drivers the importance of keeping tyres at the correct pressure. The tyre giant believes the campaign has reduced the annual CO2 emissions of participating drivers by around 145 tonnes, assuming the 4,753 drive an average of 12,000 miles per annum at 35mpg. These figures suggest those motorists would save more than 12,700 gallons of fuel and around £70,000 on fuel bills in addition to the increased wear and the added costs of replacing incorrectly inflated tyres more frequently.
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