UAN – Celebrating a successful decade in business

This year, 2014, marks a very important milestone in the progress of the United Aftermarket Network (UAN), with the buying group celebrating a decade in business. A 10 year anniversary in which the group has grown its sales, to £250 million turnover – 10% of the total UK market – and membership each year. It has become one of the leading and most innovative UK based automotive aftermarket buying groups.


Part of the company’s celebrations this year included hosting a major business conference in Munich, Germany, attended by over 70 representatives from their UK membership base, together with an impressive list of UAN suppliers and industry representatives.

As well as the social and celebratory events during the weekend in the Bavarian capital, UAN members had one-to-one meeting sessions with the suppliers and following that, after a break, was a trade show where all the UAN members and suppliers had the chance to discuss additional sales opportunities. A variety of industry topics were discussed over the period and key suppliers provided special promotional offers, specifically to celebrate the UAN business milestone.

Six companies received a special loyalty award for being supporters of the UAN operation from the very start including Advance Autoparts, A and M Parts, ACD, Essex Motor Factors, JPR Motor Parts and S and W. In addition, a further 12 companies were recognised for their long term supplier support including Delphi, FAI, First Line, Fuchs, Gates, Mahle, Manbat, Nissens, Remy, TMD, Transhock and ZF.

The UAN membership also voted for their supplier of the year. Car Supplier of the Year went to First Line, CV Supplier of the Year to TMD and the overall UAN Supplier of the Year went to FPS Limited.

The awards were presented at a gala celebratory dinner and a special award was also presented to David Clarke, managing director at Auto-Supplies of Chesterfield, for recognising his company’s 100 percent attendance record at all UAN events and his loyal support in the ten year period since the buying group was established.

A particularly memorable event, organised over the weekend, was a visit to the BMW Museum and BMW World, a celebration of the BMW marque. The museum showcases its cars and motorcycles as well as a display of Rolls Royce models. Following the tour the group enjoyed a lunch at the revolving restaurant at the top of the famous Olympic Tower, which overlooks the Olympic facilities in Munich which hosted the 1972 summer games.