The Inverness based tyre wholesaler acquired as part of Bond International’s recent deal to acquire Stepgrades Motor Accessories Limited from Halfords Group is forming a joint venture with long term Bond customer Goodtread Tyre Co, based in Alness in the Scottish Highlands. The two parties said the JV would strengthen their tyre distribution operations covering north and west Scotland and the islands, increasing the availability of stock as a result of Bond’s large stockholding, improving warehousing, and modernising Bond’s newly acquired Birkenshaw Distributors Ltd. Sandy MacKenzie and Mark Kelman from Goodtread Tyre Co will head the joint Inverness operation.
Well-known tyre wholesale business Bond International was growing fast before the latest acquisitions were announced, but now the company has agreed to purchase Stepgrades Motor Accessories Limited trading as Viking Wholesale Tyres, Birkenshaw Distributors Limited and McConechey’s Commercial Fleet Services, growth will be considerably faster. All three Stepgrades businesses have been acquired from Halfords Group Plc as part of a deal which will see Bond International partner with Halfords to distribute tyres to all of their network. Moving forward, company representatives suggested that there will “further announcements” as the company looks to expand its operation in Scotland, where the business previously had limited exposure.