Kerr’s Tyres Group has announced the acquisition of Farmer Autocare, in a move which represents part of a significant expansion strategy.
Farmer Autocare operates 21 sites offering car maintenance and servicing across Scotland, employing just under 200 people. Founded in 2003 by Sir Tom Farmer, who had also founded Kwik-Fit which he sold for £1bn in 1999, it will continue to operate in Scotland under its existing management team, led by managing director Colin McNeill.
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Kerr’s Tyres Group, based in Belfast, operates across Ireland with more than 27 retail sites, a large commercial tyre business and a tyre distribution operation. During the next five years, with backing from investors Chiltern Capital, it is planning to expand to 250 sites across the UK, through acquiring businesses such as Farmer Autocare to create a national chain of centres.
‘Privilege’ for Kerr to take over Farmer Autocare
Norman Kerr, founder and CEO of Kerr’s Tyres Group, said: “Farmer Autocare is an exceptional business, built on genuine care for customers and colleagues, values that very much mirror our own.
“We aim to continue delivering what makes Farmer Autocare so successful and share those best practices across Kerr’s Tyres Group, whilst providing operational scale to both businesses.
“Our growth and investment plans will create new opportunities for colleagues, while ensuring the Farmer Autocare standards and ways of working are embedded as we expand.
“Together, we will help the business move forward without changing what makes it special.”
Kerr added that having worked for Sir Tom Farmer, who died last year, earlier in his career, it would be an “absolute privilege” to take over the Farmer Autocare business.
Farmer Autocare MD McNeill said: “This is an incredibly exciting day for us all in Farmer Autocare. The Kerr’s Tyres Group investment creates tremendous opportunities for our people.
“Their ambitious growth plans for our already successful business, will mean we expand our centres even faster and offer our great value for money service to even more Scottish customers.”
A spokesperson for the Farmer family said: “The Farmer Autocare business has been built and grown on the key principles that Sir Tom Farmer brought to the car maintenance and servicing sector over his sixty years in the business. Look after your customers by offering good value with excellent customer service and look after your people by giving them quality jobs and great opportunities.
“When Kerr’s Tyres Group approached us we quickly recognised a shared belief in how our businesses should operate and a natural fit between the two organisations. We also saw an opportunity to accelerate the expansion plans that were already in place for Farmer Autocare.
“There are tremendous prospects ahead for Farmer Autocare under the guidance of an experienced owner such as Norman Kerr with ambitious plans. This will be good for Scottish motorists and good for all colleagues at Farmer Autocare.”