Hartwell Group has joined the successful motor industry procurement specialist, the Retail Automotive Alliance (RAA) in order to secure the purchasing power of a large scale national operator for its multi franchised dealerships across 11 sites in the UK.
Established in 1919 in Oxfordshire, Hartwell has been trading for almost 100 years and now operates a variety of new car franchises including Citroen, Dacia, Fiat, Ford, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Renault.
The RAA has an eleven year track record of delivering big savings to its Shareholder Members by combining their individual purchasing requirements across a range of suppliers from oil and number plates through to finance and insurance and striking industry leading deals which deliver savings in excess of £5 million per annum to the group.
With a combined turnover of £2.9 bn, the RAA is the 5th largest automotive retailing organisation in the UK and now has 23 Motor Dealer Group Members nationwide, selling over 235,000 new and used cars annually through more than 230 sales outlets and representing 26 motor franchises.
Commenting on his decision, Kevin Godfrey, Hartwells Managing Director, said;
“we are delighted to be part of the RAA and enjoy the benefits of scale that the group offers which enable us to be significantly more competitive than we would be alone.”
Asked about the other aspects of RAA Membership, Kevin continued;
“It isn’t simply the commercial benefits that appeal to Hartwell, it is the opportunity for me to regularly meet with like-minded business owners in my industry and share experiences, thoughts and ideas and improve our own business as a result.”
Hartwell has built its reputation on excellent customer service which has led to considerable growth throughout its history and has remained true to its roots, maintaining a local company ethos with strong emphasis on providing customers with an enjoyable and reliable service.
John Matthews, the RAA’s Business Development Director, said of the move,
“The RAA is all about its Members. We are very careful about appointing those who not only contribute to the scale and quality of our venture but who fit in culturally with what we have created. Kevin and the Hartwells team are exactly the type of business we are looking for as we continue to grow the membership and they have been warmly welcomed by all.”