National motor factor business group The Parts Alliance has rebranded to GSF Car Parts, introducing one trading name across its 170 sites for the first time.
The business, which traded locally under historic brands acquired through The Parts Alliance, announced the rebrand with immediate effect on November 9th.
GSF Car Parts President and COO Mark Eburne said: “This is a milestone moment for our business that marks the beginning of an exciting journey.
READ: GSF ACQUIRED BY THE PARTS ALLIANCE (2015)
“Operating nationally as one brand for the first time enables us to streamline more of our processes and to implement improvements across the business more quickly and efficiently. This rebrand precedes an exciting period of investment in stock, staff, innovative technology and a larger UK footprint.
READ: GSF LOSS IN ASA RULING (2012)
“What our customers can be sure of is that our network of passionate, knowledgeable and experienced staff will continue to provide the market-leading service they’re renowned for both today, tomorrow and when we become the UK’s strongest all-makes motor factor.”
READ: MOVERS: NEIL CROXSON QUITS THE PARTS ALLIANCE (JUNE 2021)
A release from the company explains that following the rebrand, The Parts Alliance will revert back to its role as a trading group that continues to allow GSF Car Parts, Dingbro and Qualvecom to ‘service customers and utilise the strength of its three members’.
READ: PARTS ALLIANCE TAKEOVER: UNI SELECT DEAL COMPLETED (2017)
Eburne continued: “The Parts Alliance was built on the strength, experience and success of every member brand it had acquired over the years. It was formed to bring together the best and brightest of the UK’s motor factors, and it’s this fantastic heritage that has enabled us to reach this point.
“GSF Car Parts already has an established national presence with both the independent motor trade and the general public, so we have an excellent springboard on which to launch this unified brand.
“We see a huge period of growth ahead for the automotive aftermarket. The ageing UK car parc and its long-term shift towards electric vehicles both provide exciting opportunities for the industry to expand, diversify and upskill. GSF Car Parts will be there to support customers across the UK, online and in person, to help them share in this success.”
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Notes for editors
GSF Car Parts is one of the UK’s leading automotive parts distributors, supplying thousands of independent garages throughout the UK and Ireland with parts, tools, garage equipment and specialist training.
The group has over 170 branches nationwide and a turnover exceeding £475 million. Built on the heritage and success of a dozen local brand identities acquired over several years, the company has traded as one brand since November 2021.
Its branch network is bolstered by centralised support and expertise from specialist departments in key areas such as procurement and supply chain, marketing and national accounts. The business also benefit from integrated IT systems, which include its industry leading catalogue system, Allicat, and access to its national garage programme, Servicesure.
GSF Car Parts is a subsidiary of Uni-Select. With over 4,800 employees in Canada, the US and the UK, Uni-Select is a leader in the distribution of automotive refinish and industrial coatings and related products in North America, as well as a leader in the automotive aftermarket parts business in Canada and in the UK. Uni-Select is headquartered in Boucherville, Québec, Canada, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (UNS).
It makes sense I guess. Could be ‘fiddling while Rome burns’ but hey ho. Bigger challenges to come as we have four businesses all fighting to become a dominant national. The UK has a woeful reputation when it comes to national factors – they have all failed. These guys are no different, three have heavy US borrowing who we know are very demanding.