Gilder Group's parts business was opened on a 30,000sq ft site in Sheffield five months ago at a cost of £100,000 in premises, IT and equipment. The VW and Audi dealer's parts division is now on target to achieve annual turnover of £1.5m.

The group's original trade parts operation was spread across five retail sites, but moving it to one location has enabled Gilder to concentrate on building the business. According to the company moving into all-makes parts supply is the next logical step.

“We are currently looking into stocking all-make replacement components and it is definitely a direction we want to head in,” says Gilder Groups trade parts manager, Andrew Edwards.

“At the moment we are testing the water with all-makes spark plugs to see how the market responds. Eventually we would like become a superfactor and offer a general factor service.”

The idea of franchised dealers operating as superfactors has been dismissed as “just talk” by leading independent players, but Edwards is adamant Gilder is not alone.

“All-makes parts is the only way trade parts operations will succeed over the next few years,” he says.

Gilder Group covers South Yorkshire and the north Midlands and is looking to expand into Lincolnshire, Humberside, Nottingham and Manchester, but says it has “no current plans” to go nationwide.