The Parts Alliance and Andrew Page have jointly acquired 33 branches from the former Unipart Automotive, which has entered administration.
“The Unipart Automotive situation is extremely sad as we know many of their team with whom we have long standing industry relationships. However, I would like to say on a personal level that it has been a privilege to be able to help contribute to saving a number of the jobs involved”, said Jim Sumner, executive chairman of Andrew Page.
Peter Sephton, chief executive of The Parts Alliance, said: “This is a real opportunity for us to safeguard and integrate more industry talent with some of the excellent staff from Unipart Automotive who will be joining us. As a service-centric organisation, the quality and calibre of our teams is a vital ingredient in our success, along with best-in-market products, systems and practices. This further increases our service levels to our major national and independent customers."
John Neill, chairman and chief executive of The Unipart Group, a separate business from Unipart Automotive, that held a 50% stake, said: “We are saddened by the Unipart Automotive situation but we know Andrew Page well and respect their near 100 year history in the automotive aftermarket. They have a strong reputation for selling high-quality products and brands and we’re pleased to have been able to support Jim Sumner’s plans to secure a future for the number of branches and former Unipart Automotive people. We look forward to working with Andrew Page to ensure the continued supply of high-quality Unipart branded products to Britain’s car owners and Unipart Car Care Centres.”
Ian Hissey - 25/07/2014 23:11
Following Unipart Groups expansive advert in the recent trade press declaring goodbye to Unipart Automotive, How does John Neill expect Unipart or UCCC to have any value at all to the past customer base. As a UCCC John's expectation that the garages we will still want to support his brand shows a level of arrogance towards 700 little business owners that is beyond belief. I care little for Big Business High stakes gambling when the stakes were the 1400 livelihoods that were the wager, especially when those people were the friends we spoke to and saw everyday wearing Unipart branded clothing. To paraphrase Unipart Group in their advert "Goodbye Unipart" "Goodbye UCCC"