EXPANDING dealership and contract hire company Red Vardy is to increasingly target fleets as it battles to increase business. The 50-strong dealership group (which, it is hoped, will expand to 60) has reported record sales and profits for the year to April 30 with around a third of its record 24,441 new car sales - up from 20,887 - going to fleets. A total of 52,864 used car were sold up from 44,101.

However, with the launch of the company's contract hire division, Vardy Contract Motoring, the group is to target fleets, and particularly small and medium-sized companies operating up to 100 -150 vehicles. Sunderland-based Reg Vardy saw pre-tax profits rise 20.4% to £17.1 million from £14.2 million on turnover up 17.7% from £575 million to £677 million.