FOW Car Supermarket is marking its 67th anniversary in 2026 following a record sales performance in 2025 and its strongest ever monthly result in January.
The family-owned used car retailer, now in its third generation, said 2025 sales exceeded 12,500 units, representing the highest annual volume in the company’s history.
Momentum built through the year, with September, October, November and December all setting new monthly records.
Kevin Cartwright, group general manager at FOW, said: “As a business we are delighted with last year’s record sales volumes.
“We’ve made significant changes in the last two to three years to streamline and strengthen processes in pretty much all departments.
“I’d like to recognise the communal efforts of all team FOW members, and the sales volumes are a reward for the team’s much improved performance on all fronts.”
Medium-term goal to reach 15,000 units
January 2026 delivered a further milestone despite weather-related disruption.
For the first time, monthly volumes were achieved that would support the group’s medium-term ambition of reaching 15,000 invoiced retail sales a year.
The month was the strongest on record for the business.
The group’s Manchester operation also recorded its best-ever January, with more than 400 vehicles sold at the expanded site, representing growth of 50% compared with the same month last year.
Commenting on the start to the year, Cartwright said: “January’s all-time record is a wonderful start to 2026 as we focus on introducing safe and reliable processes which will support our move towards 15,000 annual retail sales.
“Without getting ahead of ourselves, this hopefully may not be the medium-term project we believed it to be.”
Alongside its commercial performance, the retailer said staff fundraising efforts over Christmas generated £4,200 for St Luke’s Hospice Cheshire, the highest donation achieved through its annual raffle.
Cartwright added: “While we remain very much a work in progress, there are positive signs in all departments across the business.
“Hard work pays off. Now is a good time to be a part of the FOW family.
“In an ideal world 2026 should see 2025’s records last only a single year before being replaced by new highs which should be tougher to beat.”