East Anglia boost
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Mercedes-Benz dealer Orwell Trucks is dramatically expanding its presence in East Anglia as part of the manufacturer's extensive reorganisation of its network.
The Ipswich company is acquiring Norwich Mercedes outlet Jim Russell's commercial vehicle business, and is relocating it to a new site at 39 Hurricane Way on the city's Airport Trading Estate. The site was formerly occupied by Securicor Vehicle Services.
At the same time Orwell is taking over successful nonfranchised Mercedes service and repair specialist Heathwood Truck & Van Centre. It is based just outside Norwich, and the property it currently occupies will be sub-let.
The deals were put together with the support of 3i and Barclays Bank.
Orwell declines to disclose how much it has paid for the businesses, but some £180,000 is being invested in the new Norwich dealership.
"We'll be regional distributor for Mercedes for East Anglia, and we'll be employing 130 people," says managing director, David Grant.
The company also has service outlets at Colchester and Newmarket.
However, Grant is becoming increasingly concerned by the number of grey imports entering the country.
"We've had 43 grey import Sprinters sold into our area at around £1,300 to £1,800 less than we can sell them at, and with the same specification or even better," he reports. "They've come in from the Republic of Ireland, but we've had some come in from the Netherlands too, not to mention the odd Actros."