United Aftermarket Network (UAN), the UK buying group, is celebrating its first anniversary with the appointment of its 50th distributor.

The group now comprises more than 75 branches.

The latest distributor to join UAN is Avon & Wessex Motor Factors, a single branch operation with 20 staff and four vans.

Kevin Chard, managing director, explains the reasons for the joining UAN: "We are an independent motor factor covering a large rural area and need to belong to a group in order to compete with the larger factors. But I want to steer the business in the direction I feel appropriate and being part of UAN allows me to do this, as well as embrace the unique supplier agreements and services it has available."