Sunday, February 21, 2010
Halfords buys Nationwide Autocentres
Halfords has acquired Nationwide Autocentre, the independent car servicing and repair provider.
Nationwide Autocentres - that will be renamed Halfords Autocentres - has 224 centres offering fleets car servicing, MOTs and repairs.
Halfords said the objective in buying Nationwide is to acquire a "high quality company with proven management in a market very close to their current market where they can accelerate growth".
The growth includes opening a further 200 centres, creating 1,000 new jobs.
Halfords said it has no plans to integrate the businesses operationally and it will continue to be managed and located separately from its stores.
Nationwide’s management team will join the enlarged Halfords Group.
"All managers will continue unchanged in their current roles and existing centres will remain open and operating as usual," said Halfords.
David Wild, chief executive of Halfords added: “Our expansion into the adjacent car servicing and repair market is an exciting and logical move for Halfords.
"Car maintenance is a large and highly attractive sector where there is increasing demand from motorists and fleet operators for reliable service at affordable prices."
DATED: 21.02.10
FEED: AM
