‘Sleeping giant’ GSF Car Parts sets out strategic vision

GSF Car Parts has unveiled ambitious plans to invest, expand and improve the automotive aftermarket business.

More than 300 managers from across the national motor factor’s 180 branches and specialist support teams attended its two-day Supercharged for Success staff conference in Birmingham to which supplier partners were also invited.

At the event, the company’s announced plans to open a substantive number of new branches in early 2024, with the creation of hundreds of new jobs, together with a market-leading catalogue and to revitalise its supply chain and systems to ensure GSF is as easy as possible to do business with.

The parts supplier operates 180 branches across the UK and Ireland, supplying thousands of independent garages, national chains and retail customers with parts, specialist training, tools and equipment. The network is supported by centralised specialist departments in key areas such as procurement and supply chain, marketing and national accounts. The business also benefits from integrated IT systems, which include its industry-leading catalogue system, Allicat and access to its national garage programme Servicesure.

In 2023 private equity firm Epiris co-invested in GSF alongside the Ahluwalia family which acquired the business from LKQ Corporation. The co-investment marks Ahluwalia’s return to the car afterparts market. Having founded Euro Car Parts in 1978, he scaled the business from a single car accessories store in London into the largest car parts distributor and retailer in the UK, with 260 branches nationwide and annual sales of over £1.2 billion.

GSF Car Parts CEO Steve Horne said: “One of the top priorities for Sukhpal and I when we joined was getting all our managers and suppliers together as soon as we could, because we know the power of communicating the plans and vision we’ve got for the future of GSF.

“The feedback we’ve had about the event from both our people and our suppliers has been phenomenal, unprecedented. There’s a real passion, sense of genuine pride and energy about GSF and where we’re going in 2024 and beyond, and that’s because the success we’re going to drive will benefit every part of the aftermarket supply chain, from manufacturers to garages and road users.

“By investing, expanding and improving our business, we will transform GSF from a sleeping giant into the partner, seller and employer of choice in our industry.”

Executive chairman Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia said: “It’s so good to be back in the industry and helping to lead GSF forward. This is a fantastic team and we see huge potential for the business and its people, so we are going to give them everything they need to succeed for our customers. By working with our industry’s best suppliers, recruiting and retaining the best people and delivering every element of the basics through exceptional service to customers, we will supercharge GSF and take this business to the next level in the years to come.”