A FAMILY-RUN car retailer is celebrating another record turnover after its revenues reached £1.251 billion.

Bradford-based JCT600 boosted its coffers by two per cent from £1.226 billion the previous year.

The family business’s strong performance comes in the face of challenging market conditions and fierce competition.

Together with the growth in sales, the group also saw an improvement in its gross profits and that, together with a tight control of expenses right across the business, provided an increase in the group’s operating profit before exceptional items to £19.1m.

John Tordoff, chief executive of JCT600, said: “Whilst there was definitely a degree of uncertainty in the UK economy last year which made trading conditions a challenge, the confidence of our customers appears to be resilient.

“Given the strength and longevity of the JCT600 name, the company is continuing to outperform the market as we stick to our core value of being a ‘Trusted’ partner for our colleagues, customers and our brand partners.”

Throughout the year, JCT600 continued to invest in its ongoing programme of new premises and redevelopments by spending £7million.

This included the opening of a brand new Porsche Centre in Teesside as well as major refurbishments at Mercedes-Benz Sheffield and Peugeot Bradford.

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Nigel Shaw, group finance director at JCT600, added: “Despite strong competition both from other physical retailers and from the internet-based dealers, our ongoing investment in people, dealerships and systems is enabling us to retain our competitive advantage.”

Maintaining and developing a digital platform for customers continues to be a priority with JCT600 seeing an increase of visitors to its website and social media.

Founded in 1946 as Brooklands Garage on Sticker Lane, Bradford, by current chairman Jack Tordoff, JCT600 has grown from a single dealership into the largest privately-owned business in the region, with 50 dealerships across Yorkshire, the North East, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.