Family-owned Bradford car retailer JCT600 achieved record results for 2013, with turnover rising by more than a third to £909 million in the year to December 31.

Turnover rose by £241 million (36 per cent), including a ten-month contribution from the Gilder dealerships, parts depots and bodyshop acquired in March.

The Apperley Bridge-based firm owned by the Tordoff family made an operating profit before goodwill and exceptional items of £20.3m, up 30 per cent from £15.6m the previous year.

New car sales rose by 46 per cent (16 per cent on a like-for-like basis), well ahead of the UK retail market for the brands sold by JCT600 which increased by 9.7 per cent.

The firm also out-performed the used car market, increasing sales by 32 per cent (17 per cent like-for-like) compared with a UK rise of 0.94 per cent.

Its after-sales operation also boosted gross profit by more than £10 million (£1.8 million like-for-like). Increased gross profit margins helped the fleet division with sales increasing by 66 per cent (28 per cent like-for-like).

JCT 600, which launched a recruitment drive earlier this year, has also restructured its senior management team and boosted its online presence.

John Tordoff, group chief executive, said: “The group has shown resilience throughout the downturn by focusing on tightly controlling costs while providing outstanding customer care. This, together with the additional dealerships provided by the Gilder acquisition, means we are well-placed to benefit from the upturn in consumer and business confidence which began last year.

“2014 has already got off to a good start with new vehicle sales increasing by 18 per cent in the first quarter as customers take advantage of the excellent deals available and we are optimistic that this momentum will continue.”

He said while JCT 600 would continue to invest in its 47 dealerships, it would also focus on its internet presence where traffic on its mobile site grew by 139 per cent last year.

  • Vertu Motors, the North east-based group which operates Farnell Land Rover in Bradford and Guiseley as well as Bristol Street Motors dealerships in Bradford and Keighley, boosted revenues by 33.8 per cent to £1.7 billion with like-for-like revenues up 13.1 per cent in the year to February. Like-for-like new retail volumes rose by 19.7 per cent with used car volumes up by 7.1 per cent. Vertu Motors saw pre-tax profits soar by 259.1 per cent to £15.8 million, against £4.4m a year earlier.