South Wales-based car supermarket group The Trade Centre Wales has announced plans for national growth and confirmed the appointment of Andy Coulthurst to the position of chief executive.

Coulthurst  has spent the past three years heading Manheim’s classified advertising network Motors.co.uk and previously spent 25 years running sales operations at car supermarkets and dealer group JCT600.

The Trade Centre Wales took position 30 in the 2015 Sunday Times BDO profit track 100 report, tracking the fastest growing companies by profitability across the previous 3 years, with growth of 75% to £5.6m for the two existing retail outlets in Neath and Merthyr Tydfil.

In its first stage of expansion, The Trade Centre Wales will open a purpose designed, 8.7 acre retail outlet on the A470 to the North of Cardiff early in 2016. It is also about to complete work on a 30,000sq ft group preparation facility at Neath, with 36 ramps and a 10,000sq ft bodyshop.

Mark Bailey, chairman of The Trade Centre Wales, said: “Our new Cardiff North outlet will showcase 800 cars, with a showroom capacity of 300 and it is critical as we scale up our operation, that we continue to provide optimum quality used vehicles to our customers.

“Our reputation is our most valuable asset, we are very proud of our TrustPilot rating of 8.8 and the fantastic reviews that our customers post every day, however, our obsession with delighting customers means we must invest significantly as we grow our volumes.”

The Cardiff North store is the first of a number of outlets that will be rolled out over the next 36 months, Coulthurst said.

“Firstly, I must say that I felt honoured to be asked by Mark to lead the business at this important stage of growth. I have known Mark for a couple of years and always been incredibly impressed by what he and his team have achieved.

“Our Cardiff North opening marks the first stage of a significant growth plan, with openings in the South West and Midlands set to follow and we will also open smaller format stores in the areas in which we operate, supporting our hugely successful CanCan car finance business.”