The management team at Strongline Autoparts Limited has announced that the company has joined the GROUPAUTO UK and Ireland Buying Group. GROUPAUTO is the premier trading group for distributor and motor factor businesses operating in the independent automotive aftermarket with higher sales and purchases, more members and more outlets than any other group in the UK.

The GROUPAUTO organisation is owned by Alliance Automotive (www.allianceautomotivegroup.eu), a European leader in supplying parts and the related technical knowhow to more than 25,000 car and commercial repairers, garages, fast fit outlets, bodyshops as well as specialist and DIY chains.

Alliance Automotive Group is active in France and in the United Kingdom, and is also a member and the largest shareholder of a powerful
international buying group, Groupauto International which is represented in 40 countries in Europe and South America.

Commenting on the news Paul Warren, Sales Director at Strongline said, "Strongline Autoparts is embarking on an aggressive growth strategy and joining GROUPAUTO is a key part of this strategy. By becoming a member of GROUPAUTO Strongline will gain access to new key suppliers, brands and products that otherwise may not have been possible”. 

Paul explains that purchasing is at the core of what GROUPAUTO does, but they also support every element of an independent distributors/motor factor’s business, so that it has the strengths of an independent business while being able to compete like a large company through access to professionally operated central resources. The provision of sophisticated marketing tools to all members to help them increase sales and profitability is another vital component of their success.

The belief at GROUPAUTO is that a successful trading group needs to act like and be perceived as a coherent business and a dedicated professional organisation. GROUPAUTO also firmly believe that ethical standards are the core to a long-term successful business and this aligns very well with the ethos and culture of Strongline Autoparts. 

Toby Whewell, Commercial Manager Sales at GROUPAUTO, welcomes the addition of Strongline Autoparts as a distributor member and is looking forward to the benefits membership will bring to both parties. "Being the first full Irish distributor member of GROUPAUTO will bring certain challenges but we are confident that there will be huge advantages to Strongline joining the Group not least of which will be significant business growth."