Oak Group Holdings has acquired Exhaust, Tyres and Batteries (ETB) from Bridgestone, bringing the established UK fast-fit and wholesale business into its portfolio. The deal adds four warehouses across Wales, the Midlands and south-west England, while also giving Oak direct access to consumer-facing operations for the first time in its 45-year history.
The acquisition marks a significant expansion of Oak’s distribution platform at a time when independent wholesalers are continuing to invest in coverage and service capacity. In February, Oak Group Holdings’ move into Wales signalled plans to strengthen regional supply with a new Newport warehouse capable of holding more than 250,000 tyres. The ETB transaction now accelerates that push by adding four more warehousing locations and extending Oak’s reach across several key trading territories.
The move also changes Oak’s route to market. Until now, the business has been known primarily for wholesale distribution and brand development. By taking ownership of ETB, Oak gains a direct consumer channel through an established fast-fit network, creating a closer link between distribution, retail demand and service delivery. That is a notable shift in a market where wholesalers are looking more closely at margin control, customer retention and local availability.
One factor likely to smooth the handover is the overlap in product focus. Oak said the two businesses’ brand portfolios are closely aligned, with ETB’s current tyre lines now sitting under the same group umbrella as Davanti, Envoy, Landsail, Linglong, Delinte and Aptany. For ETB branches and trade customers, that should reduce disruption during the transition and help preserve continuity of supply.
The wider Oak business has also been building visibility around its own brands and sustainability credentials. Recent reporting on Davanti’s Ecologi-backed sustainability activity showed how the group has been reinforcing its brand position alongside distribution growth. The ETB acquisition adds a retail platform that could support that broader brand-led approach.
For the wider tyre trade, the significance lies in how the acquisition blends wholesale scale with front-line retail access. ETB was acquired by Bridgestone in September 2018 as part of the manufacturer’s effort to strengthen its UK retail footprint. At that time, Bridgestone said ETB operated 32 locations and served more than 10,000 customers a month, underlining the value of the network Oak is now inheriting.
Peter Cross, commercial director at Oak Group Holdings, said the transaction marked “the start of an exciting new chapter for Oak” and described it as evidence of the business’s continued investment and long-term commitment in a difficult market. He added that the ETB team’s experience and customer service values were closely aligned with Oak’s own.
In practice, the deal gives Oak more than extra storage and delivery points. It adds customer touchpoints, workshop demand signals and a stronger position in regions where speed of supply remains critical. For Bridgestone, it also appears to close a chapter that began with its 2018 retail expansion through ETB. For Oak, it opens a new one that combines wholesale distribution with fast-fit retail presence under one ownership structure.
Tagged with: Oak Group Holdings, ETB, Bridgestone, tyre wholesale, tyre retail, fast-fit network, UK tyre distribution, Davanti Tyres, Envoy Tyres, warehouse expansion, consumer tyre market, tyre supply chain
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