CEM Day delivered the highest return on sales in the just published Motor Trader Top 200 Dealer Groups.
The group, which is ranked 62 in the survey with survey with turnover of £248.9m and pre-tax profit of £30.2m, served up a return on sales of 10.5%.
Report author Chris Oakham said: “CEM Day achieves this amazing rate of return through its diversity of motor-related businesses to maximise its gross margin including: new and used car and van sales; van hire; and HP and leasing finance.”
In second place was Mitchell Group with turnover of £74.2m and profits of £3.6m, delivering a return on sales of 4.8%.
“The Mitchell Group 4.8% return is especially creditable given that the group donated £565,166 to a range of charities,” said Oakham.
“There are a number of dealer groups that turn in amazing performances year after year by this measure.
“Five groups listed this year have appeared for ten straight years or more: McLean & Appleton; Porsche Retail Group (41); CEM Day; FRF South Wales; and Mitchell Group,” Oakham added.
| Rank | Top 200 Rank | Company | Latest Turnover (£000) | Latest Pre-tax Profit (£000) | Return on Sales (%) |
| 1 | 62 | CEM Day | 284,855 | 30,326 | 10.6% |
| 2 | 153 | Mitchell Group | 74,217 | 3,591 | 4.8% |
| 3 | 41 | Porsche Retail Group | 518,424 | 22,034 | 4.3% |
| 4 | 42 | Currie Motors | 482,616 | 19,518 | 4.0% |
| 5 | 118 | Gravells | 130,641 | 5,154 | 3.9% |
| 6 | 181 | Richard Sanders | 50,149 | 1,941 | 3.9% |
| 7 | 48 | McLean & Appleton | 378,616 | 13,598 | 3.6% |
| 8 | 185 | Ingram Motoring Group | 47,785 | 1,693 | 3.5% |
| 9 | 34 | Cambria Automobiles | 615,634 | 20,790 | 3.4% |
| 10 | 141 | Cameron Group | 95,829 | 3,223 | 3.4% |
