JCT600's pre-tax profits move up a gear

Bradford-based car retailer JCT600 has announced pre-tax profits of 8.2m and a turnover of 465m for 2009.

This compares to a profits figure of around 1m and turnover of 473m the year before.

The group expanded its operations with the acquisition of Audi dealerships in York and Hull last August.

It also bought three further Audi dealerships in Boston, Lincoln and Grimsby in March.

John Tordoff, the chief executive of JCT600, said : "This year we have been using the phrase 'cautiously optimistic'. We are keeping on using it."

He said the company decided to move out of the fleet market because "you end up being a busy fool".

Although there were no further acquisitions on the cards, Mr Tordoff said he never knew when the phone might ring with an interesting proposition. The group employs 1,350 staff at 48 dealerships in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and the North East.

At the end of April, JCT600 was ahead of its 2009 performance, Mr Tordoff said.

Commenting on 2009, Mr Tordoff added: "We were able to establish a strong platform from which to further expand the group. We took the opportunity of adding the Audi marque to complement our existing offering as well as increasing our geographic coverage.

"We expect the addition of these established franchises to have a significant impact on further growing our sales."

JCT600 had its best week ever in March 2010, selling 632 cars with a value of more than 10m.

JCT600 finance director Nigel Shaw said: "2008 was particularly tough for the car industry, but we successfully weathered the storm and believe that the worst is now over."

From its origins with one showroom, JCT600 now sells names such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche and Ferrari.

Mr Tordoff is the grandson of Edward Tordoff, who founded the business in 1946.

His father Jack ran the company for 44 years. JCT600 takes its name from Jack Tordoff's Mercedes-Benz personalised number plate.