Liverpool-based Kirkby Tyres has played a leading role in the UK tyre business for much of its post-war history. Much has changed during that time, so with Kirkby Tyres’s parent company celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Tyres & Accessories spoke to chairman Gordon Rosenthal in order to find out more about the past, present and future of the well-known tyre wholesaler.
Wholesaler Inter-Sprint has expanded the portfolio of brands it offers with the addition of Dunlop motorcycle and scooter tyres. The first Dunlop SKUs have arrived, and the wholesaler says their availability means that “Inter-Sprint is reinforcing its name as ‘The tyre supplier for Europe’.”
The recent opening of a plant in Serbia testifies that Shandong Linglong Tire has big plans for Europe. One of its key markets within the region is Germany, and the tyre maker has now found a new distribution partner for this country, as well as for Austria and Switzerland – the ‘DACH’ region. German tyre wholesaler and retailer Reifen Straub has taken on this role.
Norwegian tyre business Norgesdekk has bought 67 per cent of the shares of Valla Dack AB as part of a move into the Swedish market. The Swedish business, which turns 40 this year, had a turnover of more than SEK 190 million in 2021 (£15.444 million; 18.330 million euros).
Wholesaler RH Claydon (RHC) opened its eighth depot on Monday. The facility in Carlisle’s Kingmoor Park North enterprise zone is now open for deliveries and collections between 8 am and 5:30 pm Monday and for collection 9 am to 12 pm Saturdays. RHC says the addition of the Carlisle depot will allow greater coverage of the north and border areas.
Omni United has appointed Olli Seppälä as its global head of R&D. The former head of R&D at Nokian, Seppälä brings with him expertise in passenger, light truck and heavy-duty tyres. His remit is to drive forward Omni’s product research, design, development and testing.
Goodyear is expanding its wholesale presence in southwest Germany with the acquisition of local player Reifen Burkhardt GmbH & Co. KG. The purchase of this family-owned tyre wholesaler brings into the Goodyear fold an operation with space to store 250,000 tyres and wheels in a 40,000 square metre warehouse facility. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.
Canadian tyre distributor Groupe Touchette Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire National Tire Distributors (NTD), the Canadian subsidiary of American Tire Distributors (ATD). The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Groupe Touchette says the addition of NTD will “significantly contribute” to its ability to serve customers and business partners while increasing the choices it can offer customers.
BKT supplier and family-run tyre wholesaler RH Claydon (RHC) has announced the official opening date of its new depot in Carlisle’s Kingmoor Park North enterprise zone. From Monday 1 August the site will be open for deliveries and collections between 8 am and 5:30 pm Monday and for collection 9 am to 12 pm Saturdays. This depot is the company’s eighth site and will allow a greater coverage of the north and border areas.
GB Tyres has announced the appointment of Jon Oram as purchasing and business development director. Oram has a wealth of experience in the European tyre business focused on product range development.
After a short tenure as president of Hankook Tire North America, Curtis Brison has taken on the role of vice president of sales, marketing and strategic growth at TireHub, the US-based national tyre distributor jointly founded by Bridgestone Americas and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The vacancy he leaves within Hankook’s regional operation is being filled on an interim basis by Sooil Lee, chief executive officer of Hankook Tire & Technology.
Dutch wholesaler Tyre Trading International B.V. (T.T.I.) was declared insolvent by the Court of Rotterdam (Rechtbank Rotterdam) on 21 June 2022. According to the country’s central insolvency register, the appointed trustee for the case is Mr M Hoogendoorn.
Best4Tires, the tyre, rim and complete wheel firm previously known as Reifen Gundlach, has entered into a binding agreement to purchase German tyre wholesaler 1a Berlin-Tyre GmbH & Co. KG. Parent company Rivean Capital (formerly Gilde Buy Out Partners) states that this acquisition “represents another important milestone towards Best4Tires’ strategic goal of establishing a market presence throughout Germany.”
Halfords Group has reported strong full-year 2022 revenue growth of +19.9 per cent compared with 2020. That means total group revenues amounted to £1.369 billion in 2022, of which £368 million came from the autocentres business – an increase of 91.9 per cent compared with 2020. Group gross margin totalled £721.7 million, of which £211.0 million came from Autocentres. Much of the Autocentres-driven growth comes via the acquisitions of Iversons and the Axle Group/National Tyres last year, however life-for-like growth of 23.4 per cent shows that business continues on an organic upward trajectory as well. As a result, Halfords Autocentres gross margin is now growing six-times faster than the group’s wider retail business.
American Tire Distributors (ATD) has entered into an agreement to acquire Tires Now, the wholesale tyre distribution business of automotive service and tyre provider Monro, Inc. The transaction brings seven Tires Now facilities across the Southeastern USA, which service more than 3,500 wholesale customer sites annually, into the ATD fold. In addition to servicing these wholesale customers, ATD will now also strengthen its strategic support for the tyre business conducted at more than 1,300 Monro retail outlets.
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Kirkby Tyres
Valla Däck AB; Norgesdekk
GB Tyres