News from the tyre wholesale sector
To put the weirdness of 2022 into perspective, consider that tyre wholesalers must contend with the impact of both rising costs and falling costs. And this contradictory situation is but one of a host of challenges in a year that tore up the rulebook. Antwerp-based wholesaler Deldo recently shared its experiences with us.
Readers with an interest in European tyre wholesale won’t have failed to notice a couple of recent developments in Germany. Best4Tires, the firm previously known as Reifen Gundlach, entered into a binding agreement to purchase German tyre wholesaler 1a Berlin-Tyre GmbH in June, and the following month Goodyear announced an expansion of its wholesale presence in southwest Germany with the acquisition of local player Reifen Burkhardt.
Already well established as a leading Truck and Commercial wholesale tyre supplier, recent diversification from GB Tyres has seen it increase its presence in the car wholesale market. It is now looking forward to expanding its off-road agricultural, plant, construction and earthmover offerings, the wholesaler tells Tyres & Accessories. While the expansion of its sales into passenger car tyres has required approaching new customers and a slightly different customer base, many agricultural customers are already using GB Tyres for their truck tyre supply. GB Tyres says the extension is therefore a case of “enhancing its offer to the same customers.” It adds that the advantage of offering tyres in an expanding range of segments to an existing large customer base means it can offer a mix of car, truck and any other tyres all on the same delivery, which helps the company distinguish itself from some competitors.
Within Europe’s tyre wholesaling business, Inter-Sprint is a name that needs no introduction. A key player within Global Automotive Investment Holding, Inter-Sprint offers Europe’s largest tyre stocks and employs some 425 people. And as testified by the new warehouses flanking existing buildings at the wholesaler’s main site in Moerdijk, the Netherlands, the company is still […]
With the winter months approaching and the cost-of-living challenge affecting many across the UK, the next few months are vital represent an important part of the year, Oak Tyres tells Tyres & Accessories. The wholesaler, part of Grouptyre, has been planning since early 2022 to strengthen its position. Oak Tyres’ winter tyre supply chain planning starts in February each year, with production running through the summer. This means that the brand has stock arriving from Autumn onwards for the winter months. Oak says it is anticipating “unprecedented demand” for sister tyre brand, Davanti, “due to its value proposition,” an eventuality it has prepared for.
In September, Stapleton’s Tyre Services became the exclusive Great Britain distributor of Triangle passenger car and van tyres. The deal, which has been in the making for the last couple of years, will build on the strengthening relationship between Triangle Tyre and the UK’s largest tyre wholesaler. It was finalised after comprehensive testing of the Triangle range by Stapleton’s and its ultimate parent company Itochu. In recent years, the company has become the largest distributor of Triangle products in Europe. Stapleton’s states that Triangle is a “strong strategic fit in the economy segment” of its portfolio. It will make the brand available to “all customers in every channel.” Unveiling the deal, Stapleton’s hosted key dealer customers and European representatives of Triangle at PalmerSport at the Bedford Autodrome. Tyres & Accessories also attended the event, taking the opportunity to speak to Stapleton’s managing director Andy Fern, who took the reigns in the first quarter of 2020 just before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted business as usual, about the new deal and the evolution of the Stapleton’s business under his leadership.
Just as too many cooks spoil the proverbial broth, multiple stakeholders can sometimes be problematic in the business world. Peter-Alexander van ‘t Hof tasted this particular broth a few months ago and found it bitter and unpalatable. Yet he isn’t letting this ruin his appetite for the tyre industry.
Micheldever Tyre Services and Giti Tire gave UK GT Radial Performance Centre (GTPC) dealers the opportunity to test the brand’s latest tyres to the limit during their recent Ride and Drive event in Portimão, Portugal. Held at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve circuit at the start of September, dealers were able to drive on the celebrated race track on the GT Radial SportActive 2 ultra-high performance tyre, as well as testing the handling and off-road capabilities respectively of the brand’s FE2 and Savero SUV.
Triangle Tyre has signed an exclusive Great Britain distribution agreement with the island’s largest tyre wholesaler, Stapleton’s Tyre Services. The deal means Stapleton’s gets sole distribution rights for Triangle branded passenger car and van tyres within Great Britain, building on the strengthening relationship between the two companies. In recent years, Stapleton’s has become the largest distributor of Triangle products in Europe.
On 7 September, American Tire Distributors (ATD) announced the completion of its Canadian subsidiary’s sale to Groupe Touchette, Canada’s largest locally-owned tyre distributor. By divesting the National Tire Distributors (NTD) business, the wholesaler says it is now “better positioned to serve its customers across the US” and to “invest in the enhanced innovation that is driving its transformation efforts.”
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.
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.
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.
NTDA
Davanti Tyres
Stapleton's
Giti Tire
Triangle Tyre