What Caffyns Plc does

Caffyns Plc is a UK motor retail and aftersales group operating 14 dealership locations across Sussex and Kent in the South East of England. Founded in 1870 and listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker CFYN (company number 105664), the group is one of the longest-running car dealerships in the UK, with headquarters at Saffrons Rooms, Eastbourne. It operates a horizontal segmentation model serving individual consumers (primary), business/fleet customers, and Motability scheme participants.

The group holds multiple OEM franchises across two brand families: the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Cupra, SEAT) and Volvo, MG, Vauxhall, and Lotus. Its product offering covers new and used vehicle sales (including the dedicated Motorstore used-car brand), manufacturer-approved car servicing, competitive personal and business leasing, and the Motability disability-leasing scheme. Caffyns also acts as an FCA-authorised credit broker (via appointed representative ITC Compliance Limited), introducing customers to finance providers and earning commission on arranged loans. Distribution is delivered through physical retail showrooms supplemented by a consumer-facing dealer website (caffyns.co.uk) and corporate investor-relations site (caffynsplc.co.uk). There is no proprietary technology platform, no mobile app, no public API, and no disclosed AI/ML capability.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time new and used vehicle sales (new deliveries down 11%, used sales up 4% in FY2026), recurring aftersales servicing (up 6% to £32.7M), subscription-style leasing, and credit-broker transaction fees. FY2026 group revenue was £270.7M (down 2% YoY from £275.5M), with an underlying loss before tax of £1.5M. Net bank borrowings stood at £7.3M (down from £8.5M) and the freehold property portfolio carried a £10.7M valuation surplus over net book value. The group employs 251–500 staff and recently monetised the Brooks Road, Lewes freehold to Lidl for £4.65M, while franchise portfolio reshaping (2016 Land Rover divestiture to Harwoods; 2021 MG entry; Lotus Sussex relocation planning) remains ongoing under recently appointed CFO Joelle Timperley.

Name

Caffyns Plc

Legal name

Caffyns Public Limited Company

Website

https://caffynsplc.co.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Caffyns Plc operates 14 motor dealerships across Sussex and Kent in southeast England, selling new and used vehicles from multi-OEM franchises (Volkswagen Group, Volvo, MG, Vauxhall, Lotus) and providing aftersales servicing, leasing, Motability, and credit-broker services to consumer, business, and disability-scheme customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Eastbourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Sales: Revenue from sale of new and used cars through 14 dealerships across Sussex and Kent. New car deliveries down 11%, used car sales up 4%.
2. Aftersales Services: Car servicing and maintenance revenues, up 6% to £32.7 million in FY2026.
3. Vehicle Leasing: Competitive leasing deals offered for personal and business customers.
4. Credit Broker Services: The company acts as a credit broker arranging vehicle financing, receiving commission from finance providers based on fixed fees or percentages of amounts borrowed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Caffyns Plc is a motor retail and aftersales company operating from 14 dealerships across Sussex and Kent in southeast England. The company sells new vehicles across franchises including Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Cupra, SEAT, Volvo, MG, Vauxhall, and Lotus, and used cars through its Motorstore brand. It also provides vehicle servicing, MOT testing, parts, accident repair, car leasing, and Motability vehicles.

Product overview

Caffyns Plc operates as a motor dealership network offering a comprehensive range of automotive products and services. The company sells new vehicles through multiple manufacturer franchises (Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Cupra, SEAT, Volvo, MG, Vauxhall, and Lotus), alongside a dedicated used car operation under the Motorstore brand. The product portfolio encompasses new and used car sales, car servicing, leasing, and Motability scheme participation, distributed across 14 dealerships throughout Sussex and Kent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Car Sales Sales of new vehicles from multiple manufacturer franchises including Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Cupra, SEAT, Volvo, MG, Vauxhall and Lotus, offered to individual consumers in southeast England.
• Used Car Sales (Motorstore) Used car sales operating under the 'Motorstore' brand, stocking all makes and models up to six years old, for individual consumers.
• Vehicle Aftersales Services Aftersales services including servicing, MOT testing, parts, accident repair, and smart repairs for vehicles purchased from the group and other makes.
• Car Leasing Vehicle leasing offered as part of the company's comprehensive offering for individual and business customers seeking flexible vehicle access.
• Motability Vehicles Motability specialist supply of adapted vehicles for disabled customers under the national Motability scheme.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Cupra, SEAT)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolkswagen Group franchises including Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Cupra, and SEAT brands sold through Caffyns dealerships. Core franchise partnerships representing major automotive brands.
• VolvocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolvo franchise for sale of new Volvo vehicles through Caffyns dealerships.
• MGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMG franchise for sale of new MG vehicles, with operations including Ashford location opened in 2021.
• VauxhallcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVauxhall franchise for sale of new Vauxhall vehicles through Caffyns dealerships.
• LotusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLotus Sussex franchise, operated at Brooks Road Lewes location until October 2025 with planned relocation.
• Kreston Reeves Audit LLPcoreOthersIndependent auditor for the company.
• Taylor Wessing LLPminorOthersSolicitors providing legal services to the company.
• The HeadLand ConsultancyminorOthersFinancial PR agency providing communications and investor relations support.
• Lidl Great Britain LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurchased freehold property at Brooks Road, Lewes from Caffyns for £4.65 million in December 2024. Caffyns retained occupational lease to continue Lotus Sussex operations until October 2025.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vertu Motors plc: Vertu Motors is a UK-listed motor retailer operating franchise dealerships for new and used cars, plus aftersales. It is the closest direct peer to Caffyns, with a similar business model (multi-franchise regional dealer group) and overlapping premium/mass-market brand portfolio including Volvo, Vauxhall, and VW Group.
• Pendragon plc: Pendragon (now part of Lithia Motors) was one of the UK's largest volume franchised dealer groups, operating brands like Evans Halshaw and Stratstone. It is a direct comparably for Caffyns in terms of multi-brand franchise operations and aftersales offerings, though at much larger scale.
• Lookers plc: Lookers is a UK-wide motor retailer operating new and used car franchises plus aftersales. It shares Caffyns' core model of franchised dealerships with manufacturer partner relationships, and is directly comparable in product offering and customer segments.
• Marshall Motor Group: Marshall Motor Group is a UK regional motor retailer with similar scale and franchise mix. Like Caffyns, it operates multi-franchise dealerships selling new and used cars with aftersales services, and is a natural comparable for evaluating regional UK dealer economics.
• Cambria Automobiles: Cambria is a UK motor retailer with franchised dealerships selling premium brands including VW Group products. It is a comparable to Caffyns in business model and target market, focusing on similar regional multi-brand retail.

Broad incumbents

• Inchcape plc: Inchcape is a global automotive distributor and retailer with material UK retail operations. It is comparable to Caffyns as a multi-brand franchised motor retailer, though significantly larger and more geographically diversified across international markets.
• Arnold Clark: Arnold Clark is the largest privately-owned car retailer in the UK, operating hundreds of dealerships across multiple franchises. It is broader in geographic reach and scale than Caffyns, but directly comparable in core business model of new and used car sales with aftersales.

Regional players

• HR Owen plc: HR Owen is a UK luxury and sports car dealer with similar UK focus. While it serves a higher-end segment than Caffyns, it shares the same franchised dealer model and aftersales services, and is comparable in terms of scale and direct-to-consumer premium vehicle sales.
• JCT600 Ltd: JCT600 is a family-owned regional car dealer group operating across Northern England. It is comparable to Caffyns in multi-franchise dealership operations and aftersales, though concentrated in a different UK region (Yorkshire/North).
• Harwoods Limited: Harwoods is a regional motor dealer in the South East of England, operating franchises including Land Rover (which it acquired from Caffyns in 2016). It overlaps directly with Caffyns' Sussex and Kent territory and competes head-to-head in premium franchises.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/caffynsgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caffyns-plc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Caffyns Plc