Cob(*) shuts body builder
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Coboco, the Co-op's £1.5mturnover bodybuilding business in Urmston, Manchester is to close this week. But the paintshop, which opened in November 1990, will be integrated into the Ford and Fiat car dealerships on the site.
About 50% of Coboco's business was with the Co-op, which will now rely on its other in-house bodybuilder, run by Leicester Co-op, or will turn to outside bodybuilders.
Coboco built 230 bodies in 1990 and 300 in 1991. As recently as February this year the company had secured 52 firm orders.
Since then, however, business conditions have deteriorated and its holding company CWS describes Coboco as "no longer viable".
The poor state of Coboco's order book, and the fact that the site is surrounded by other Co-op operations, makes any sale impossible, says CWS.
The closure entails the loss of 26 jobs. The five remaining Coboco employees will be transferred to the car dealerships, Cascade Motors and Motorcare, to help build up their CV paint and service business.