Memphis, Tenn.-based Del-Nat Tire Corp., an independent provider of automobile, agriculture and commercial truck tires and tubes, celebrated its 25th year in business during its annual meeting this month in Clearwater, Fla.
Del-Nat stockholders, suppliers and employees marked the occasion during a special anniversary dinner that included guest of honor Bob Gardner, the founding president of Del-Nat.
Del-Nat was established in 1989 when Texas-based Delta Tire Corp. and Ohio-based National Tire Corp., both private label tire brands, merged to form the co-op and relocated to its present location in Memphis.
Since the merger, Del-Nat says it has continued to grow the legacy network of tire dealers and now services more than 80 independent wholesale and retail operations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Japan. With annual sales of more than $200 million, Del-Nat says it holds a firm place in the tire industry.
“This is a very special time in our company’s history and we are honored to have Bob with us to mark the occasion,” said Jim Mayfield, who has served as president of Del-Nat since 2009.
“We named our annual kickoff meeting ‘Built to Last’ to signify our strong foundation as we move into the next 25 years,” said Ronnie Williams, Del-Nat’s director of Finance.
“Del-Nat is built upon the strong commitment between stockholders, employees and suppliers.”
A stockholder for more than 20 years, Frank Bernstein said “Del-Nat gives dealers such as me the opportunity to control our own destiny. I have the security I wouldn’t have with a franchise.
“If you’re a franchise dealer with one of the major brands, they have the right to cancel you with a 30-day notice. I don’t have to worry about that.”
Del-Nat maintains a network of domestic and international manufacturers producing the Delta, National, Sentinel and Akuret private brand names. The company has numerous other suppliers who provide tire accessories and ancillary programs.
“Many of our suppliers have longstanding relationships with the company, going all the way back to 1989,”said Mayfield. “Our suppliers are very much part of the Del-Nat story.”
The warehousing and administrative operation is composed of more than 50 full-time employees; some have been with the company since its first day in operation, according to Dell Stone, Del-Nat senior Administrative manager.
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