BRITAIN'S fast-fit market is booming with aggressive expansion plans being pursued by the leading players and vehicle manufacturers establishing their own fast-fit networks to protect their dealership service and repair revenues.

As a result the value of the UK fast-fit market is expected to reach £2.32 billion by 2001 - £1.86 billion last year - and a number of smaller chains could find it difficult to remain independent, thus fuelling further consolidation in the market, according to a new report from MarketLine International.

The growth is being led by established fast-fit sector players with the number of outlets owned by the top ten operators in the industry increasing by 8.4% to reach 2,912 last year (1995: 2,687). The report - UK Fast-Fit - attributes much of the growth to the industry's market-leader, Kwik-Fit, which has continued to expand. However, the report says the most significant expansion has been by the franchised fast-fit chains with Ford Rapid Fit expanding its number of branches by a third last year and Vauxhall MasterFit by more than 50%.