Stapleton’s Tyre Services, the UK’s largest tyre distributor, and Triangle Tyre, one of China’s leading tyre manufacturers, today announce an exclusive wholesale and distribution agreement.
Under the agreement, Stapleton’s now has the sole distribution rights for Triangle branded passenger car and van tyres within Great Britain. The agreement builds on the strengthening relationship between the two companies, which over recent years has seen Stapleton’s become the largest distributor of Triangle products in Europe.
The agreement comes after comprehensive testing of the Triangle range by Stapleton’s and its ultimate parent company ITOCHU. Stapleton’s has recognised that Triangle is a strong strategic fit in the economy segment of its own portfolio, and it will be making the brand available to all its customers in every channel.
Triangle has invested heavily in its range of economy tyres with an extensive research and development programme delivering regular updates to the brand’s portfolio – with further enhancements, increased fitments and new tread patterns planned for the coming months. These product updates are delivering consistently high scores against European labelling criteria and confirm the brand to be a high-quality, affordable-cost option.
Andy Fern, managing director of Stapleton’s, said: “We have seen a growing demand from customers for a well-supported, branded offering in the economy segment. Everyone understands the role brands play in the premium and mid-range sectors, but we believe that there is clear space for a strong brand at an entry level price point. Over the last two to three years, we have been assessing propositions in this segment which could complement our existing portfolio and Triangle fits the bill perfectly.
“We have carried out intensive testing on the Triangle line up and we have seen it deliver excellent performance at very competitive prices. We are delighted to be cementing our relationship with this exclusive agreement. This ensures consistent, nationwide supply throughout our network, which will allow our customers to plan their own sales and marketing programmes with confidence.”
Corrado Moglia, Triangle’s General Manager for Europe, says: “The Triangle brand has been present in the British market for almost 20 years and this agreement is set to build on those foundations. Drivers are looking to reduce their costs, but still want to be able to choose products they can trust. We believe that strong brands can be a significant advantage in these lower price segments and our relationship with Stapleton’s will provide the platform to grow the Triangle brand across the country. We have the ambition to quickly build annual sales to one million tyres in the UK market, and Stapleton’s is the perfect partner to enable us to do this.”
The new agreement is the latest strategic move by Stapleton’s to provide its customers with the broadest offering in the market. This is not only reflected in its product portfolio, but in other areas such as the launch of Project TREE, the sustainable rubber programme, and the acquisition of Murfitts Industries by Stapleton’s parent ETEL. The latter development has allowed Stapleton’s to support its customers with a fully audited casing collection service linked to its tyre deliveries, streamlining operations and reducing administration and handling costs.
Fern says: “Our goal is to provide customers with all the support resources they need from cradle to grave, enabling them to focus all their efforts on servicing their own customers, knowing that they have a responsible and reliable partner they can count on.”
