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Rice is nice for Imperial
Page 51
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Gloucester-based Joseph Rice Truck Services has been bought by Imperial Commercials. Kevin Swallow reports.
The Imperial Commercials network in the South-West has been boosted with the acquisition of Joseph Rice Truck Services.
Renamed Imperial Commercials Gloucester, the dealership will fall under the control of South-West regional director David Lewis. -We've been speaking to operators in Gloucestershire over several months and having already built up a twice-daily parts delivery service throughout the area; this is the next logical step," he says.
Joseph Rice Truck Services operated as the Foden service and parts dealer for Gloucestershire but under the Imperial Commercials Gloucester tag it will have a new franchise on site.
Lewis adds: The acquisition is a good opportunity for us and a solution for operators. We will add a new truck franchise as soon as possible which, with our other excellent facilities in Bristol, Frome and Swindon, will mean that Imperial Commercials is the firstchoice service and parts supplier in the region."
Since Imperial Commercials was created out of the old Lex network by the South African Imperial Holdings Group in 2006 it has acquired several businesses. Ian Oakes,managing director of Imperial Commercials, highlights the rapid expansion: "In just over a year Imperial Commercials has bought a dealership. on Deeside near Chester, added the fast-growing Hino franchise in several locations and made a il.7m investment in the Frome area.
"The Gloucester business fits well with our aim of operating sites where truck operators most need the support," he adds.
The Imperial Commercials national network now consists of 25 sales and service sites.