What Grove Group does

Grove Group (legally G Mitchell Limited, trading as 'Grove group') is a UK nationwide distributor of vehicle repair and refinishing products, serving automotive bodyshops as its primary customer base alongside adjacent trade and domestic buyers. Headquartered in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, with 11 branch locations across England, Scotland, and Wales, the company combines a physical distribution network with an integrated digital platform built around five proprietary modules: Grove: App (mobile and desktop ordering with barcode scanning and over 10,000 SKUs), Grove: Integrum (automated stock control and reorder), Grove: Connect (customer portal for invoices, payments, and order tracking), Grove: PoD (proof-of-delivery capture), and Grove: Business Suite (KPI, financial viability, and process optimization tooling). The company has continuously traded under the Grove/G. Mitchell name since 1917, evolving from a Sussex haberdashery into a specialist refinishing supplier through seven regional acquisitions (Grove Motor Colours, Hunters of Watford, Sprayshop Supplies, Eurocolour, Bodyshop Services, CJ Supplies, and Avon Autocolour).

The business operates a hybrid revenue model: bulk product sales of paints, coatings, body fillers, abrasives, and accessories from major manufacturers form the core, complemented by a £1,500/month subscription for Grove: Integrum when sold to non-customers (free to existing supply customers) and consultative business support services delivered through dedicated account managers. Go-to-market combines direct field sales and account management to bodyshops with self-service digital ordering via the Grove: App and groveshop.co.uk online shop, reaching both trade buyers and domestic customers. Marketing spans organic social (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), email newsletter, industry trade shows, and referral-driven direct outreach.

The company is privately held and independent, with no disclosed parent or institutional ownership; the Mitchell family maintained leadership from founding through 2009, and the post-2009 governance structure is not detailed in available sources. Grove is pursuing PAS 2060 carbon emissions certification, offers Health & Safety services in partnership with ARC, and maintains an MSDS archive for compliance documentation. Revenue, funding, and detailed headcount metrics are not publicly disclosed, and no public listing or parent corporate backing is identified.

Name

Grove Group

Legal name

G Mitchell Limited

Website

https://grovegroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Grove Group is a UK nationwide distributor of vehicle repair and refinishing products, serving primarily automotive bodyshops through 11 branch locations and a proprietary digital platform spanning ordering, automated stock management, proof of delivery, and business analytics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Burgess Hill

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of automotive refinishing supplies including paints, coatings, body fillers, abrasives, and accessories from multiple major brands. Products sold through app, online shop, and branch locations to bodyshops and domestic customers.
2. Grove: Integrum (Non-customer): Monthly subscription for stock control system to non-Grove customers at £1500/month. Free to existing Grove customers.
3. Business Support Services: Consultative services including business analysis, KPI monitoring, monthly tailored reports, and periodic consultations to help bodyshops improve efficiency and profitability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Grove Group is a nationwide UK supplier of automotive refinishing products — paints, coatings, body fillers, abrasives, and accessories from multiple major brands — to vehicle body repair shops (bodyshops) and trade customers. The company complements its product distribution with a proprietary integrated digital platform (Grove: App, Integrum, Connect, PoD, Business Suite) that automates ordering, inventory management, delivery tracking, and business analytics for bodyshops.

Product overview

Grove Group operates the Grove: Digital Platform, a comprehensive suite of five integrated digital tools designed for the automotive refinishing industry. The platform consists of Grove: App (mobile/desktop ordering with stock management and barcode scanning), Grove: Integrum (automated stock control with barcode scanners and automatic reordering), Grove: Connect (customer gateway for invoices, account management, and delivery tracking), Grove: PoD (Proof of Delivery app that automates inventory updates upon signature), and Grove: Business Suite (business analysis tools with four modules: Health Check, Core Product Profile, Repair 4 Profit, and Bodyshop Operations Overview). These products are designed to work together to minimize manual processes, automate stock management, and provide business intelligence for bodyshops. Grove Group also provides complementary services including Health & Safety advisory (via ARC partnership), an MSDS Archive, and an e-commerce online shop. Founded in 1917, the company has evolved from a haberdashery business to a nationwide supplier of vehicle repair and refinish products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grove: Business Suite: Suite of business analysis and reporting tools for bodyshop businesses including KPI assessments, financial viability checks, and operational analysis.
• Grove: App
• Grove: Integrum
• Grove: PoD
• Grove: Connect

Products and services

• Grove: App Mobile and desktop application enabling customers to browse and purchase automotive refinishing products, manage stock with a built-in barcode scanner, and access real-time pricing and inventory levels. Available on iOS, Android, and desktop. Free to download for customers.
• Grove: Integrum Automated stock control system operating from a computer and dedicated barcode scanner; monitors stock levels, automatically reorders when items fall below thresholds, integrates with Grove: PoD for automatic inventory updates, and connects to Grove: Business Suite for job cost analysis and profitability reporting. Free to Grove customers; £1,500/month for non-Grove customers.
• Grove: Connect Customer gateway providing single-login access to download invoices, view account balances, settle outstanding balances, track orders, and monitor delivery details including proof of delivery photos and signatures.
• Grove: PoD Proof of Delivery application that collects signatures, takes photos, and logs delivery details. Automatically integrates with Grove: Integrum to update available inventory when orders are signed for, eliminating manual stock counting.
• Grove: Business Suite Suite of business analysis and reporting tools for bodyshop businesses featuring four modules: Integrum Health Check (financial viability assessment), Core Product Profile (product cost analysis), Repair 4 Profit (work provision and process optimization), and Bodyshop Operations Overview (workflow analysis from reception to release). Includes monthly reporting and video consultation with specialists.
• Health & Safety Services Health and safety advisory services provided in partnership with ARC, covering health & safety compliance, environmental management, waste control, COSHH, work environment, and ISO 9001 quality assurance systems for bodyshop customers.
• MSDS Archive Online archive of Material Safety Data Sheets for Grove's own brand products and major third-party brands including 3M, Concept Chemicals, Cromadex, Cromax, PPG, Sikkens, Spies Hecker, and over 40 other manufacturers.
• Grove Online Shop E-commerce platform accessible at groveshop.co.uk for purchasing automotive refinishing products and supplies with customer-specific trade pricing applied.
• Automotive Refinishing Products Distribution Sale of automotive refinishing supplies — paints, coatings, body fillers, abrasives, and accessories — from multiple major brands (3M, PPG, Sikkens, Spies Hecker, Cromax, Cromadex, Concept Chemicals and others) sold through the Grove: App, online shop, and 11 branch locations to bodyshops and domestic customers across the UK.
• Business Support Services Consultative services including business analysis, KPI monitoring, monthly tailored reports, and periodic video consultations provided by dedicated business support managers to help bodyshops improve efficiency and profitability.

Quantifiable outcome

• Automated stock management reduces manual ordering time
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ARC (Health & Safety Advisory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrove Group works closely with ARC (a professional health and safety advisory service) to provide Health and Safety advice on the latest legislation to customers. ARC helps bodyshops operate within current legislation by providing a low cost, effective health & safety management system with documentation and personal support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• PPG Industries: Global coatings manufacturer whose PPG, Sikkens, and Nexa Autocolor lines are distributed by Grove; comparable as upstream supplier that could choose to bypass distributors and serve bodyshops directly.
• Alliance Automotive Group: Pan-European automotive aftermarket parts distributor with UK operations; comparable in distribution model to bodyshops and trade customers, though broader than refinishing-specific supplies.
• LKQ Corporation: Global aftermarket parts distributor with a significant UK presence (owner of Euro Car Parts); competes with Grove across automotive product distribution to trade customers at much greater scale and broader category scope.
• Axalta Coating Systems: Global refinish coatings manufacturer (Cromax, Standox brands); comparable because Grove distributes its brands and Axalta also operates direct-to-bodyshop supply programs that compete with distributors like Grove.
• Genuine Parts Company: Global automotive aftermarket parts distributor (NAPA, Alliance); comparable in scale and trade-distribution model, with potential UK reach through Alliance partnerships that overlap with Grove's customer base.
• BASF Coatings: Global automotive coatings manufacturer with refinish brands (Glasurit, R-M); comparable to Grove as both upstream supplier and direct-to-customer competitor in automotive refinishing.
• Sherwin-Williams Automotive: Global coatings manufacturer with refinish lines distributed through UK channels; comparable to Grove as manufacturer-distributor dynamic in automotive refinishing supplies.

Regional players

• Motor Parts Direct: UK automotive parts distributor serving trade and retail customers through a national branch network; comparable distribution model and UK geographic focus to Grove, albeit with broader auto-parts breadth.
• Euro Car Parts: UK-focused automotive parts distributor now under LKQ; comparable B2B trade supply model to UK bodyshops, though broader in category mix than Grove's refinishing focus.
• Parts Alliance: UK aftermarket parts distribution group serving independent garages and bodyshops; comparable trade-focused distribution model with UK-only geography, though broader than refinishing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thegrovegroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCH0FwmIJh5Y9brXd-Yc0umw
• Facebookfacebook.com/grovegroupuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grove-group-automotive
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_grovegroup

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grove Group