Farmer Autocare, a subsidiary of Kerr's Tyre Group, has acquired Hunters of Linlithgow, marking the first milestone in its ambitious plan to expand across Scotland. The acquisition brings together two organisations with strong community roots and a shared commitment to customer service.
Acquisition Details
Hunters of Linlithgow, founded in 1943, employs 20 professionals and offers a range of bespoke diagnostic services. The team will continue to be led by General Manager Alistair Brailey. The business will join 21 existing Farmer Autocare centres across Scotland.
Kerr's Tyres Group, founded in 2002 by Norman Kerr in Antrim, has grown to 53 points of sale, a large commercial tyre business, and a successful tyre distribution group. The retail business focuses on tyres, services, maintenance, and repair, with plans to expand to 250 sites throughout the UK and Ireland.
Leadership Comments
Alistair Brailey, General Manager at Hunters of Linlithgow, said: "Since 1943 we've built a really special business in Hunters and our community knows it can rely on our brilliant team. We've seen great growth over the last few years under the ownership of John and Mairi Hunter. Joining Farmer Autocare is a really exciting opportunity for our team and our customers. Being part of a growing national network means we can keep delivering that high quality service while creating more prospects for our team."
Norman Kerr, founder and CEO of Kerr's Tyres Group, commented: "Three months ago Farmer Autocare joined Kerr's Tyres Group and we said we'd expand fast. This acquisition is a significant milestone as we begin our expansion and welcome more great local businesses to our growing team. Hunters of Linlithgow is exactly the kind of business we want to bring into our group. It has skilled people, a loyal customer base and a commitment to doing things to the highest standards."
Colin McNeill, Managing Director of Farmer Autocare, added: "Since joining Kerr's Tyre Group three months ago, we've worked hard to develop a strong expansion pipeline - today's announcement is the first of many. The Hunters of Linlithgow team shares our belief that quality and customer care should be at the heart of our business. As we expand across Scotland and beyond we're building a network of centres that take real pride in their work, so Alistair and his team are the perfect fit for that."
Impact and Future Plans
The acquisition is the first step in Kerr's Tyres Group's strategy to create a national chain of centres by acquiring thriving local businesses. The group aims to reach 250 sites across the UK and Ireland, bringing together skilled teams and loyal customer bases.
