Evergreen recently introduced its all-new Dyna range including the DynaControl EU728 pattern, which reportedly presents handling and braking performance in both wet and dry road conditions. In addition, a special silica compound in the tread is said to “significantly reduce rolling resistance and increases fuel efficiency”.
Independent tyre distributor and one of Grouptyre’s 10 member EG Wholesale has opened its new warehouse in Partridge Green, West Sussex. Colin Obbard, operations and logistics manager said, “It has been a long time coming finding a suitable location for an expanding wholesale operation.” Grouptyre states that “continued investment” by members, “such as new warehousing, is one of the primary reasons for the continual growth of the company, who consistently strive to offer more to the retailer.” EG Wholesale is a division of a motor trade group that has petrol stations, convenience stores, property rentals and workshops. The family run business has been in business for over 40 years with a turnover of £48m and 230 members of staff.
The Landsail LS588 UHP – and indeed all Landsail car tyres – have enjoyed rapid and consistent growth during the last few years. Despite the parent Sentury Tire factory having only being founded in 2009, seven-digit UK volumes demonstrate the brand is a force to be reckoned with in this European market at least. In the competitive UK ultra high performance sector, Landsail offers the LS588, which company representatives say offers “premium performance at competitive price”.
In Landsail, Evergreen and Goodride, Grouptyre says it has three brands that offer “affordable quality” to the retailer. The former’s rise in the UK has been well documented; it is now achieving sales well into six figures and increasing its brand penetration with consecutive title sponsorships at the Performance Car Show. Supported by Grouptyre members’ investment, the latter two brands have achieved increasing prominence within the car tyre market too, and their latest products target the most popular segments in the UK market. As with Landsail, Grouptyre offers a wide range of dealer support packages, including competitive pricing, access to exclusive dealer promotions, point of sale material and merchandise, for both brands.
One of the most immediately visible tyre brands at this year’s Autosport International show was Landsail. Not only did Group Tyre member Oak Tyres take out a five times bigger stand this year, the company also sponsored the Performance Car Show, which means the brand’s name was being dropped show new releases weeks before the event and that branded hoarding adorned the Performance Car Show’s entrance. When you consider that Oak Tyres also organised a Davanti-branded stand at the show, the company was one of the most prominent tyre brands present.
Grouptyre, has appointed Paul Hollows as its new commercial director. Hollows, who has been with the company for almost 16 years, has been promoted to the role from sales director, which sees him assuming responsibility for implementing Grouptyre’s business development strategy. Hollows joined Grouptyre in its infancy in 2000, and was appointed sales director for the company in 2008.
Oak Tyres has undergone some dynamic changes this year as it adapts its business to a shifting wholesale landscape. The most radical of the company’s developments in 2015 has been the launch of its fully owned private brand Davanti, which Oak’s management most recently supported at CITExpo 2015 in Shanghai. To accommodate operations associated with the new brand, Oak Group Holdings was formed, with the Oak Tyres 100 per cent wholesale business now under this umbrella alongside Davanti Tyres, and promotional merchandise producer Davanti World. With the Davanti product designed as “an opportunity for margin”, in the words of general manager Larry Cross, Oak Tyres’ brand portfolio has increased its scope. Stating that “we have a very clear, defined brand strategy at Oak, which we have refined continuously over the past five years,” Peter Cross, commercial manager at Oak Tyres, told Tyres & Accessories a bit more about the company’s current outlook, and how the second tier “exclusive brand programmes” are offering customers the opportunity “to maximise their profits”.
Grouptyre says that “continued investment” by its members is one of the primary reasons for its 2015 growth following a period of consolidation. With a turnover fast approaching £310m, Grouptyre, which comprises 10 strong regional wholesalers, has seen further investment in warehousing, delivery vehicles and therefore availability of product and an increase in delivery drops to its retail customers. Currently Grouptyre has 40 strategically located distribution points, with more expected to be added, and 440 delivery vehicles nationwide.
Growing global demand for Landsail car, high performance and van tyres has prompted Sentury to open a new factory in Thailand and the first Landsail tyres rolled off the production line earlier this week. The new plant will mean a significant increase in the capacity and output of Landsail tyres. A completely automated production line has been introduced, with Sentury investing in the VMI Exxium building machines, which are capable of producing a tyre every 38 seconds.
Davanti has appointed Sean Maddocks as sales director for UK and Ireland; he will be starting his role with immediate effect.
Three committed staff members at Lincolnshire-based BA Bush and Sons have recently hit significant long service milestones.
Kumho Tyre (UK) Ltd (KTUK) has appointed Karl Naylor to the newly-formed role of national sales manager. Naylor will lead the car tyre sales team in further growing its business within Kumho’s own network of independent retailers, while simultaneously developing new market channels for the brand. The former Grouptyre MD will report to sales director Kevin Peck.
With Landsail and Grouptyre celebrating their third anniversary this June, the two firms have announced that the partnership is now selling over 1.5 million units a year. Grouptyre became the sole distributor of Landsail in the UK and Ireland when the deal was struck three years ago and, according to both the partners and the unit sales figures, the relationship has gone from strength to strength since then.
Evergreen has renewed its relationship with young racing driver Dan Zelos after a successful 2014. The brand will support the promising Norfolk teenager during another season of the ITV4-televised Ginetta Junior Championship – one of the leading support series’ to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) – as it begins at Brands Hatch on Easter weekend (4-5 April).
Grouptyre says that UK retailers continue to demand a diverse range of tyres from different manufacturers to meet the varying needs of their customers. Its exclusive brands, which include Landsail, Evergreen, Federal and Goodride, are designed to offer affordably priced products that cover a range of driver demands.
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