Sunwin Motor Group is putting out the feelers for further expansion after starting the rebranding process for the seven sites acquired in June from Ilkeston Co-operative Society.

The £300m turnover Bradford-based group has a £100m war chest to spend on acquisitions and says it is looking add outlets to enable it to compete with larger groups.

The former Ilkeston Co-Op outlets, located in Derby, Burton on Trent, Loughborough, Mansfield, Ilkeston, and two in Nottingham, will soon be trading under the Sunwin banner.

Sunwin operations manager Steve Whitaker says: “Sunwin is a dynamic and successful motor business, which is already well known in Yorkshire and Lancashire for its high standards of customer care.

“We believe that customers old and new in the East Midlands will soon come to respect us for the same reason.”

Ilkeston Co-op Group will still retain its dealerships in Lincoln and Grantham, but it has seen its turnover fall to £40 million after the acquisitions.