The Shortis Group

Family owned, family run for over 50 years.

The Shortis Group has unrivalled experience in automotive parts supply and fitting centres with over 50 years trading. The group operates five companies across the UK, from North Yorkshire to the Thames, from retail shops and fitting bays, to trade distribution along with property interests, with a turnover of almost £40m.

The group comprises Wilco Motor Spares, Wilco Motosave, Fast-Fit, EU Ltd and Linco PLC. As a whole, the K.J. Shortis Group employs over 600 enthusiastic staff and trades from nearly 100 sites at 75 locations across the UK, the majority of which are freehold.

The Shortis success story started in 1963 when Kevin Shortis as a 23-year-old opened his first motorist discount store in Norwich, bringing cut-price, branded products to local car owners. It was an immediate hit.

More stores were opened until in 1971 the company was taken over by a public company. However, this was not successful and after a few years Kevin Shortis formed Wilco Motor Spares and then bought back four of his original stores including the Salhouse Road Head Office.

Joined by his son Richard, Wilco expanded to 18 outlets by 2004. In August of that year, Wilco took over the Leeds-based Motosave with its 24 shops and fitting bays, therefore increasing the group to 42 stores.

Wilco and Wilco Motosave, now the largest family-owned independent motor spares group in the UK, employ over 600 staff at 43 retail sites, there to help by offering the right stock at the right price.