Imperial purchases four Watts Truck Centre sites in West Country

Imperial Commercials, the largest independent CV dealer group in the UK, has expanded its operation with a share purchase of four sites belonging to DAF Trucks dealer Watts Truck Centre.

Sites at Gloucester, Hereford, Worcester and Yate take Imperial Commercials to 30 dealerships across the UK. Imperial Commercials MD Ian Oakes says Watts is a well respected DAF and Fiat Professional franchise operation and a great fit within Imperial’s existing franchises in the West of England.

Part of the deal will see Watts build a state-of-the-art dealership on 2.5 acres at Hempsted Lane, Gloucester for Imperial Commercials over the next two years.

Watts became Imperial’s landlord in March 2011 when it acquired the site from haulier Joseph Rice & Sons when they called it a day, three years after Imperial bought the parts and service operation Joseph Rice Truck Services from the transport company.

Imperial will relocate from Hempsted Lane to Watts’ site at Mercia Road, Gloucester while the construction takes place. John Thurston, Watts Group chairman, says the deal will enable the group to better focus its effort and resources on the remaining Watts Truck Centre sites at Cardiff, Newport and Swansea.  

“We are pleased to be building a new dealership for Imperial on our Hempsted Lane site which should provide outstanding levels of service to Gloucestershire businesses,” he says.