Following the news that aftermarket car parts supplier Unipart Automotive has gone out of business, rival parts supplier, Euro Car Parts, has bought 27 locations previously owned by Unipart.
“We are delighted to have acquired these 27 branches and may yet acquire more,” said Martin Gray, CEO of Euro Car Parts. “Over the last few days we have been working hard to identify which locations fit into our growth strategy. This deal clearly demonstrates our determination to deliver industry-leading levels of service and availability.
“Most importantly, we are optimistic that many ex-Unipart employees from these locations will now join Euro Car Parts,” added Gray.
The company has already made offers to more than 100 ex-Unipart employees and will create 1,500 new positions over the next 12-18 months. It has an existing network of almost 200 branches.
The collapse of Unipart Automotive affects 180 sites in total, employing 1,200 people. As reported in July, Andrew Page, another UK-based car parts distributor has bought 33 branches, saving 350 jobs.
The 27 locations bought by Euro Car Parts are as follows: Acton, Avonmouth, Ayr, Bangor, Bath, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Dundee, Dunfirmline, Elgin, Enfield, Folkestone, Grantham, Guildford, Keighley, Kendal, Llandudno, Loughborough, Newark, Norwich, Perth, Sittingbourne, Sunderland, Swansea, Wigan, Worthing and Wrexham.
