Nokian has sold its Denver Meadow Creek
wholesale operation to the a
href="http://motorage.search-
autoparts.com/motorage/article/articleDetail.jsp?
id=707412">Tire Factory cooperative organization.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“Adding Denver to our Portland, Ore. and Salt Lake
City, Utah facilities gives us more efficient
distribution in the western United States,” says Tire
Factory CEO John Kreidel.
“More efficient distribution helps keep transportation
costs lower for our members,” he adds, “and allows them
to grow in a marketplace that daily is more
competitive. Existing members will benefit from the
increased buying power, increased volume, related
programs and profitability that come from being a
larger tire retailer.”
Citing “a strong partnership with Tire Factory; one that is based on
shared goals for growth in the northwestern U.S.,” Jari
Lepisto, general manager of Nokian North America,
reports that “when Tire Factory expressed an interest
in acquiring our operations in Denver, we determined
that having them do so was an excellent fit with our
total growth plan in that territory, and we were
pleased to enter into this agreement.”
“The acquisition of this facility completes one of our
strategic goals for expansion in the Southwestern
United States,” notes Tire Factory Chairman of the
Board Chris Cornelius.
“Our new Denver facility will make Tire Factory’s programs and buying power
more accessible to independent tire dealers who want to
become part of the nation’s best member-owned tire
buying and marketing co-op,” says Cornelius, co-owner
of Clair & Dee’s Tire Factory in Rexburg, Idaho.
The organization has more than 200 members in 15
Western states with retail sales in excess of $300
million.
For more information, visit www.tirefactory.com and www.nokiantyres.com.
