Automotive buying group, United Aftermarket Network Ltd (UAN) has achieved double-digit growth in 2011.

Purchases by distributors through approved suppliers are at record levels, with more than 90 percent of UAN distributors growing their business this year.

In the space of just eight years since its launch, UAN – now a registered trademark in the automotive aftermarket – has grown to more than 145 distributors and 220 branches nationwide.

Much of this growth is down to UAN’s core principle of providing distributors with the right agreements with the best suppliers and ultimately the best possible purchasing terms. Furthermore, UAN deliberately aims to rewrite the ‘rule book’ on what it means to be a distributor in an automotive buying group, ensuring what is provided not only becomes the norm, but is performed to the highest set of professional standards.

This includes, from January 2012, the central collection, administering and delivery of supplier purchasing rebates to distributors, at no extra cost to the supplier or distributor.

Rod Edwards, UAN sales director, said: “The automotive aftermarket is an extremely tough environment but the UAN group, its employees and distributors fight for every opportunity and this is demonstrated through the growth we have achieved. As a buying group, we never stop looking at new ways to better serve our distributorship, ensuring they are in the best position possible to remain competitive in the marketplace.”