9:00 am, May 29, 2018
SOUTH coast automotive company Hendy Group is to buy and transform Unbeatablecar Portsmouth.
As part of the acquisition, the new site will be rebranded, refurbished and restocked, opening for business as Hendy Car and Van Store on Sunday, July 1.
All staff from Unbeatablecar Portsmouth will be retained as part of the acquisition, which is taking place for an undisclosed sum, and Hendy Group chief executive Paul Hendy, pictured, said he was delighted to be opening such a large outfit in Portsmouth, where the group already has Ford, Honda, Kia and commercial vehicle operations.
‘The new site will enable us to offer up to 500 used cars and vans in one easy-to-access location in Anchorage Road, and we look forward to providing buyers with the high quality they have come to expect from the Hendy Group,’ he said.
‘Our award-winning Car and Van Store concept is based on offering the best choice of vehicles at the most competitive prices without compromising on the customer experience.’
In addition to the used cars and vans, the site will also offer full car and van servicing facilities, with a 20-bay workshop, bodyshop and Smart Repair.
Hendy said that once the deal was complete at the end of June, the site would close temporarily to allow for restocking and refurbishment. The Hendy Academy, recently awarded IMI accreditation, will also relocate to the Anchorage Road site.
‘This acquisition provides a tremendous addition to the Hendy portfolio. It will be our largest used vehicle operation to date and is part of our ongoing expansion plans in the south.’
The group currently has 12 motor franchises in 25 locations and employs more than 1,000 people in Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Devon. The group already has a successful Car and Van Store in Exeter and is due to open another one in Ferndown.
Last year Hendy, which was recently named Employer of the Year in the 2018 Solent 250 Awards, sold more than 38,900 vehicles and serviced and repaired more than 235,000.
Mark Sopp, director of Unbeatablecar, said the sale was a positive and strategic move for the company as it looked to further develop its online business.
‘Portsmouth is a great facility and we are thrilled that Hendy is to buy this operation,’ he said. ‘This in turn gives us the opportunity to focus on the ongoing expansion of our online operations and Crawley hub. Our online business continues to grow and our future is very much in providing good-value quality cars and operating from one central location.’
MORE: Hendy to create more than 20 jobs with Car Store in Dorset
MORE: Hendy Group named Employer of the Year
MORE: Hendy Group’s top sales and support staff honoured at special ceremony
On WorkshopMagazine.co.uk: Most expensive counties for car repairs revealed
