NAPA Auto Parts reposted this
Growing its global footprint, GPC expanded its automotive business overseas in 2013, with the purchase of GPC Asia Pacific – a business with its own rich heritage that now spans over a century. The story began in post-World War I Melbourne, when Geoffrey Russell identified a growing need to make replacement parts. In a tin shed in Collingwood, Victoria, Russell opened a small factory trading under the name Automotive Grinding Company. From here, Russell supplied replacement parts for American and British motor cars. In early 1928, Russell and Alan Murton added a new string to their bows, designing patterns and molds to cast pistons in Melbourne. They established a foundry on Mary Street, North Melbourne for this purpose, registered as Piston Casting Co. Russell needed a way to distinguish the Melbourne-made pistons from imports. Borrowing from common practice of the time, Russell took the first letters of his company name and added ‘co’ to the end. The new pistons were stamped R-E-P-C-O, standing for Replacement Parts Co. Thus began the Repco story. Repco’s brand stands for ‘Authenticity’, derived from having quality products that have earned customer trust for over 100 years. The partnership with GPC has positioned Repco with sheer scale, world-class information and logistics systems and financial capacity to significantly accelerate planned growth in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region. The partnership has further powered Repco’s ability to get the right products to the right place at the right time at competitive prices. GPC Asia Pacific now offers several iconic brands, including Repco and NAPA Auto Parts, and is the largest automotive aftermarket parts distributor in Australasia with 550 stores and having amassed $1.5 billion in annual sales. Now that’s genuine growth driven by genuine, partnership, care and excellence. #GPCHistory #LifeAtGPC #GenerationsofGPC
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