Stapleton’s Confirms NETE Purchase
Stapleton’s Tyre Services has officially confirmed that on 28 February 2011 it acquired all the shares of North Eastern Tyre & Exhaust Limited (NETE). However, an official statement issued by the company reported that NETE will continue to trade as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stapleton’s Tyre Services. Stapleton’s representatives said the company intends to complement NETE’s “professional approach to the market and their excellent customer service in order to ensure the future success of both companies.” No further details of the price or the terms have yet been released.
Continue ReadingHankook continues ‘success story’ with Ventus Prime2
Drawing inspiration from sources that include the “teeth of predatory cats,” the next generation Hankook Ventus premium comfort tyre has pounced onto the European market. The all-new Ventus Prime2 follows on from its similarly-named predecessor, a tyre that achieved European sales of more than ten million units during the seven years it was available. Hankook describes the new tyre, intended for “frequent drivers with a high safety awareness and maximum demands, as an evolution of a format “Ventus Prime drivers have known for many years and grown to love.” The lion’s share of the range will be produced in the company’s Rácalmás, Hungary factory.
Continue ReadingMarch Editorial: Driving distribution forward
The last time Tyres & Accessories reported at length on EDIWheel the coverage provoked a welcome reaction. The healthy debate on the implementation of EDIWheel followed our publication of a report on the subject just over a year ago (January 2010), which featured a TIF hosted summit on the protocol. More than a year after the event, and after systems suppliers such as Tyreman made recent efforts to promote their EDIWheel compatible wares, Tyres & Accessories thought it was time for an update.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit confirms Itochu is new owner
Kwik-Fit Group has confirmed earlier reports that PAI Partners has sold the fast fit chain to the Japanese Itochu Corporation for £637 million. The purchase price is said to include £457 million of debt, which will be paid off in full at completion, according to a Financial Times report. The deal is reportedly Itochu’s biggest investment in the UK and follows its acquisition of Stapletons in 1994. The company is also already talking about the potential synergies between the two businesses:
Continue ReadingItochu Buys Kwik-Fit for £637 million
Kwik-Fit has reportedly been sold to the Japanese conglomerate that owns Stapleton’s, Itochu Corporation. According to a City AM report, the deal follows the signing of a three digit million pound deal yesterday (1 March 2011). The article suggests Kwik-fit’s former owner, private equity firm PAI Partners” has “cashed out” of its six-year ownership of the chain for “£637 million, which includes net debts of £457 million.” A Kwik-Fit spokesman refused to confirm or deny the reports when Tyres & Accessories asked for confirmation of the news. Either way, the reports suggest the deal is still subject to regulatory approval.
Continue ReadingDineen wins General 4×4 award
Dave Dineen, Micheldever/Southam’s 4x4 sales manager, was recently presented with a unique award by General Tire for exceptional sales achievement. Dineen who has headed up the MTS specialist 4x4 sales division based at Southam for over 10 years, received a handmade belt constructed from the tread of the General Grabber AT2 for exceptional sales achievement.
Continue ReadingAndy Dingley becomes Brigestone UK communications manager
Bridgestone has appointed Andy Dingley, previously Bridgestone UK’s advertising and promotions manager, as communications manager. Dingley will reportedly use his 16 years experience in the tyre industry to build the strategic communications campaigns, focusing on public relations, brand, corporate and crisis communications, online activity and consumer shows. The move brings all product groups together for the first time and follows a recent restructuring of the senior sales and marketing team at Bridgestone North Europe. Dingley will focus on boosting the company’s visibility in the UK whilst helping to promote the business’ success across the whole North region.
Continue ReadingStill 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).
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