A management team which narrowly lost out in a bid to acquire several Autela Edmunds Walker branches from the collapsed Finelist Group, has launched an independent aftermarket business in West Yorkshire.

Godfrey Autoparts in Leeds is the first in a planned network of seven greenfield outlets supplying a range of automotive parts to franchised dealer workshops, fast-fits and independents. The outlets will be built in the North-east over the next 12 months.

Director Richard King said Godfrey Autoparts was conceived after the management team, consisting of directors Brian Whittle, Brian Horrox, Neil Jaggar and Martin Buckley, failed to rescue a clutch of Edmunds Walker branches from receivership.

“We had a strong business plan, the finance was arranged, key suppliers were behind us and we had an experienced management team in place,” he said. “We just needed locations and now we've opened the first.

Mr King said the business would be associated with reliable parts and experienced staff. “These are the things we've used as benchmarks in Leeds,” he said.