3:18 pm, November 16, 2015
AFTER a 15-year absence the Bolton-born and bred Smyth family are back in the town after purchasing the Gordon’s Honda centre on Folds Road.
Michael Smyth founded RRG, Radcliffe Road Garage, in 1967, going on to run one of the busiest petrol stations in the UK and growing RRG into Europe’s largest Toyota dealer group before selling the business to Marubeni Corporation in 2000.
In 2003, along with his sons, David, Peter and John, Michael founded the Swansway Group, an award-winning motor retail group which operates 19 centres, three of which are Honda sites in Rochdale, Manchester and Stockport.
A delighted Michael commented: ‘Being back where it all started is special for us; we’ve remained a family-owned and run business, and my sons were born and brought up in Bolton, so to return to the town gives us all great pleasure.
‘We already have experience of the Honda brand, operating three further sites in the area and we’re looking forward to getting to grips with our latest centre, back in our home town.’
Swansway operates 19 centres across the north-west and midlands, retailing many leading brands including Audi, Volkswagen and Land Rover.
The business is not only renowned for its high levels of customer satisfaction, winning the Volkswagen Award for No.1 dealership in the UK in 2014, but also for being a good employer, having been in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For list for five consecutive years.
John Smyth added: ‘I live in Bolton with my wife and children, so for me this is a real home-coming, I couldn’t be happier.’
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