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Most motor retailers were tested on this ability when the last recession hit in 2008-2009, demanding a rapid reconsideration of the cost base, business opportunities and short-term strategy.

Most motor retailers were tested on this ability when the last recession hit in 2008-2009, demanding a rapid reconsideration of the cost base, business opportunities and short-term strategy.

Harratts Group, a family-owned multi-site motor retailer based in West Yorkshire, weathered the storm well. Even in 2008, with 11 businesses and holding franchises for Volvo, Nissan, Renault, Peugeot and Mitsubishi, it remained in the black, with £202,000 profit before tax, unlike many others among the AM100 largest dealer groups. In 2009 and 2010, it drove profits back above the £1 million mark. Turnover reached £180m and it expanded, adding more Nissan and Peugeot businesses and starting new relationships with Honda and Kia.

Managing director Shaun Harratt said: “If you go back to the scrappage campaign, we had a fantastic time. When some other groups started to struggle, we were having our record years. We’d evolved as a family business and ended up with a structure that sort of provided individual managers with their own little fiefdoms.”