Grouptyre to add Value through Service Initiative
In 14 months of Peter Harries’ leadership, Grouptyre – the UK’s leading independent tyre wholesaler – enjoyed sales growth in excess of 15 per cent. Attempting to continue this period of growth is Grouptyre’s new MD, Karl Naylor (see page XX) who has worked as the company’s director of commercial operations since 2005. He and the company remain committed to supporting manufacturers and meeting the needs of independent retailers, national account customers and franchised dealerships by improving service levels and adding value throughout the supply chain.
Grouptyre, with its network of 13 members in 33 UK locations (including Northern Ireland), is convinced of the key role it plays within the industry, presenting the wholesaler as “a buffer to smooth availability peaks and troughs.” Since manufacturers produce in batches and cannot afford to hold all products in stock at all times for on-demand orders, they require an intermediary to ease stock congestion. In addition, retailers have neither the space nor the financial muscle to carry all suppliers’ products for on-demand orders. However they do require a readily available supply of the tyres they do not stock, along with a fast and frequent delivery service, to secure consumer sales.