Halfords
Encyclopedia
Halfords Group plc is a leading retailer of car parts, car enhancements and bicycle
s operating in the United Kingdom
, Ireland
, the Czech Republic
and more recently in Poland
, although it is currently pulling out of the latter two countries. A separate company runs Halfords stores in the Netherlands
and Belgium
, but it only has historical ties to the UK-based Halfords (it was formed by Halfords, then sold). Halfords is listed on the London Stock Exchange
and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
. Within the field of bicycle retail, the company also uses the brand 'Bikehut'.
in Birmingham
in 1892 as a wholesale ironmongery. In 1902 Rushbrooke moved to a store on Halford Street in Leicester
, for which street the company was named, and started selling cycling
goods.
It opened its 200th store in 1931 and purchased the Birmingham Bicycle Company in 1945. In 1968 it opened its 300th store.
The Company became a part of Burmah Oil in 1969, following a takeover battle between Burmah Oil and Smiths Industries. During this time, a non-executive director of Halfords was Denis Thatcher
, husband of Margaret Thatcher
, later Prime Minister
of the UK.
The Company was acquired by Ward White Group in 1983 and subsequently acquired by the Boots Group in 1991. It was then taken over by CVC Capital Partners
in 2002 and in 2004 it was floated on the London Stock Exchange
. On 11 July 2005 Halfords entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Autobacs Seven Co.
, a Japan based car accessory retailer with chains of stores all over the world and who is best known in other countries that do not have an Autobacs store for being the title sponsorship of Super GT
and D1 Grand Prix
. On 13 December 2005 Autobacs acquired 5% (11,400,000 shares) of the company at approximately ¥7.5 billion.
On 18 February 2010, the company announced a deal to purchase the Nationwide Autocentre
MOT chain from the private equity firm Phoenix. The plan is to rebrand the centres under the Halfords name and open another 200, creating around 1,000 new jobs. On 24 May 2010, the first four Halfords Autocentres opened in Derby
plus the one located near the head office in Solihull.
, Republic of Ireland
, and Central Europe. The first store in Poland
opened at the end of 2008. This is in keeping with the Company's strategy that involves expanding into Eastern European countries where the average age of cars is acknowledged as being slightly older, and the people are more adept at car maintenance. In June 2009 Halfords launched a Republic of Ireland dedicated website Halfords.Ie which is aimed at serving the customers of ROI with the option to browse and reserve items online, and then collect and pay for them instore.
Halfords has its own range of bicycles under the brand names of "Trax", "Apollo" (value brand) and "Carrera", "Voodoo" which Halfords is the sole distributor in the UK and ROI, and was also the sole supplier of Boardman Bikes
when they were first launched.
racing team under the name of Team Halfords. The team won the BTCC overall Drivers Championship in 2005 and 2006 with driver Matt Neal
.
Halfords used to sponsor motoring on the UK TV channel Dave.
In 2008, Halfords started sponsoring a mixed professional bike team, Team Halfords Bikehut
, headed by Nicole Cooke
. They also sponsor the Halfords Tour Series
of cycle races.
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s operating in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and more recently in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, although it is currently pulling out of the latter two countries. A separate company runs Halfords stores in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, but it only has historical ties to the UK-based Halfords (it was formed by Halfords, then sold). Halfords is listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index
FTSE 250 Index
The FTSE 250 Index is a capitalisation-weighted index consisting of the 101st to the 350th largest companies on the London Stock Exchange. Promotions to and demotions from the index take place quarterly in March, June, September and December...
. Within the field of bicycle retail, the company also uses the brand 'Bikehut'.
History
The company was founded by Frederick RushbrookeFrederick Rushbrooke
Frederick William Rushbrooke was the founder of Halfords, one of the United Kingdom's largest chains of cycle shops.-Career:...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1892 as a wholesale ironmongery. In 1902 Rushbrooke moved to a store on Halford Street in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, for which street the company was named, and started selling cycling
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
goods.
It opened its 200th store in 1931 and purchased the Birmingham Bicycle Company in 1945. In 1968 it opened its 300th store.
The Company became a part of Burmah Oil in 1969, following a takeover battle between Burmah Oil and Smiths Industries. During this time, a non-executive director of Halfords was Denis Thatcher
Denis Thatcher
Major Sir Denis Thatcher, 1st Baronet, MBE, TD was a British businessman, and the husband of the former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. He was born in Lewisham, London, the elder child of a New Zealand-born British businessman, Thomas Herbert Thatcher, and his wife Kathleen, née Bird...
, husband of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, later Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
of the UK.
The Company was acquired by Ward White Group in 1983 and subsequently acquired by the Boots Group in 1991. It was then taken over by CVC Capital Partners
CVC Capital Partners
CVC Capital Partners is one of the top five largest private equity firms globally with approximately US$46 billion in funds focused on management buyouts...
in 2002 and in 2004 it was floated on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
. On 11 July 2005 Halfords entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Autobacs Seven Co.
Autobacs Seven Co.
is a retailer of automotive parts and accessories based in Japan with branches all over the world.-Name of origin:*AUTO: Appeal, Unique, Tire, Oil*BACS: Battery, Accessory, Car audio, Service...
, a Japan based car accessory retailer with chains of stores all over the world and who is best known in other countries that do not have an Autobacs store for being the title sponsorship of Super GT
Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
and D1 Grand Prix
D1 Grand Prix
The , abbreviated as D1GP and subtitled Professional Drift, is a production car drifting series from Japan. After several years of hosting amateur drifting contests, Option magazine & Tokyo Auto Salon founder Daijiro Inada, and drifting legend Keiichi Tsuchiya hosted a professional level drifting...
. On 13 December 2005 Autobacs acquired 5% (11,400,000 shares) of the company at approximately ¥7.5 billion.
On 18 February 2010, the company announced a deal to purchase the Nationwide Autocentre
Nationwide Autocentre
Halfords Autocentre is a chain of MOT and car servicing garages across the UK.-History:It was founded in January 2001 as a former subsidiary of Lex Autocentres, owned by Lex Service plc when it was under the leadership of Andy Harrison. Since 1999, these were part of the RAC's motoring division,...
MOT chain from the private equity firm Phoenix. The plan is to rebrand the centres under the Halfords name and open another 200, creating around 1,000 new jobs. On 24 May 2010, the first four Halfords Autocentres opened in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
plus the one located near the head office in Solihull.
Operations
The Company operated 462 stores as of 2 April 2010. These stores are in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, and Central Europe. The first store in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
opened at the end of 2008. This is in keeping with the Company's strategy that involves expanding into Eastern European countries where the average age of cars is acknowledged as being slightly older, and the people are more adept at car maintenance. In June 2009 Halfords launched a Republic of Ireland dedicated website Halfords.Ie which is aimed at serving the customers of ROI with the option to browse and reserve items online, and then collect and pay for them instore.
Halfords has its own range of bicycles under the brand names of "Trax", "Apollo" (value brand) and "Carrera", "Voodoo" which Halfords is the sole distributor in the UK and ROI, and was also the sole supplier of Boardman Bikes
Boardman Bikes
Boardman Bikes, is a British bicycle manufacturer, founded by the professional cyclist Chris Boardman, Sarah Mooney and Alan Ingarfield, and launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2007...
when they were first launched.
Sponsorship
Halfords used to sponsor the Team Dynamics BTCCBritish Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
racing team under the name of Team Halfords. The team won the BTCC overall Drivers Championship in 2005 and 2006 with driver Matt Neal
Matt Neal
Matthew Neal is a British motor racing driver. He won the British Touring Car Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2011. He has also won a European Touring Car Championship race. He is 6' 6" tall, making him almost entirely unable to race single-seaters...
.
Halfords used to sponsor motoring on the UK TV channel Dave.
In 2008, Halfords started sponsoring a mixed professional bike team, Team Halfords Bikehut
Team Halfords Bikehut
Team Halfords Bikehut was formed in January 2008 with Dave Brailsford, performance director of British Cycling, the general manager. It had been a pro/national team mooted as the first full British professional women's team but there were men such as Rob Hayles in the group...
, headed by Nicole Cooke
Nicole Cooke
Nicole Denise Cooke, MBE is a Welsh professional road bicycle racer for the Mario Cipollini - Giordana Team team, and is the current Olympic road race champion.-Early life:...
. They also sponsor the Halfords Tour Series
Halfords Tour Series
The Halfords Tour Series is an annual series of cycling criterium races which started in 2009. It is sponsored by cycling retailer Halfords and televised by ITV4 in the UK. The competition emphasises team effort with individual wins deemed less important....
of cycle races.
See also
- Merida BikesMerida BikesMerida Industry Co., Ltd is a Taiwan based bicycle design, manufacture, and sales company. It was started in 1972 as a small contract shop under a Japanese bicycle parts brand, by current chairman D.H. Ike, Tseng. Merida has expanded to the US and Europe and is now a global player in bicycle...
: manufacturer of Halfords' Carrera and Boardman branded bicycles - Carrera bicycles
- Boardman BikesBoardman BikesBoardman Bikes, is a British bicycle manufacturer, founded by the professional cyclist Chris Boardman, Sarah Mooney and Alan Ingarfield, and launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2007...
- RipspeedRipspeedRipspeed is a sub brand of Halfords, one of the leading automotive parts retailer in the United Kingdom. It began asan independent retailer in the 1970s, two decades later the business changed hands and was purchased in 1999 by Halfords, and operates as one of the five subsections of a store if it...