Kwik Fit expands to Italy

The Kwik Fit Group has agreed a partnership which will see 200 Kwik Fit centres open in Italy over the next decade.

The UK’s largest automotive repair and servicing company, and biggest tyre retailer has signed a franchise agreement with CDG-ONE, part of Segema SpA, a leading tyre distribution group in Italy.  Segema imports and distributes Yokohama tyres in Italy through Yokohama Italia SpA and GiTi Tyres through Magri Gomme SpA.

Unlike Kwik Fit’s operations in the UK and the Netherlands where all the centres are company owned with no franchising, the Italian centres will all be franchises. Under the agreement, CDG-ONE has a license to exclusively operate the Kwik Fit brand and concept in Italy for at least 10 years.

CDG-ONE will oversee the management and operation of all the service centres in Italy. Kwik Fit will provide access to training, including use of its UK training academies, and support in areas including operational procedures, marketing and technology.

Kwik Fit centres in Italy will look like and operate on the same principles as those in the UK. There is scope for different formats within the agreement, from centres offering just tyre replacement and wheel alignment services to the full range of services provided by UK centres, such as servicing, brake replacement and air conditioning.  Customers of the network in Italy will also benefit from the Kwik Fit European Guarantee.

Kenji Murai, chief executive of Kwik Fit, said, ‘This partnership is a significant step in further developing Kwik Fit outside the UK as we believe the Italian market holds great potential for our brand. We are confident that CDG-ONE will deliver the Kwik Fit network in Italy enabling Italian motorists to benefit from the fast, efficient and value for money service that customers in the UK, the Netherlands and Hungary already know.’