Chris Swan has sold four Bulldog Express outlets and closed two others citing a need to “get the business in shape”. The former Finelist boss acquired the outlets as part of the Autela Edmunds Walker purchase in May, which made his parts distribution business the third largest in the UK.

Six AEL sites remain within the Bulldog network. Mr Swan said the outlets that were sold did not meet the Bulldog blueprint of larger sites holding more stock. “Our first site in Brighton holds £500,000 worth of stock and 12,000 part numbers, which is far more than the usual distribution centre,” he said.

Bulldog Express, which now has 15 outlets, is being prepared for an upheaval in the £4bn distribution sector.

Mr Swan believes the present set up involves too many middlemen who each take profit from the chain, reducing margins for the motor factor. “We are taking a much simpler and streamlined approach,” he said.