Landmark Warkworth business sold

One of Warkworth’s most established businesses Wilmot Toyota has sold.Albany Toyota has absorbed the Warkworth franchise, although the adjoining Z service station will remain under the Wilmot family brand.

General manager David Wilmot is the third generation of his family to run the business, which started as Walden Motors in Matakana. David’s grandfather Archibald (Arch) Wilmot worked in the garage before taking over ownership and eventually deciding to shift to Warkworth in 1955.

He died before the move was completed, but his son Les worked at the Warkworth station from day one and, until last month’s sale, continued his association with the business on a daily basis despite now being 79. David started running the business in 2007.

“Small dealerships like ours struggle these days; it’s just a fact of the changing face of automotive dealerships in NZ,” David says. “In the 1990s there were 60 dealerships which were mostly owner-operated. Today, there are 34 owned by about 24 people. Ownership is concentrating in to fewer hands so our sale was almost inevitable.

“Plus, it was getting increasingly difficult to work to Toyota’s Terms of Trade.

“Our five-year franchise agreement came up for renewal so it seemed timely to make a decision.”

David says all Warkworth staff were given the opportunity to transfer over to the new company with all their entitlements so, to a large extent, it will be “business as usual”.

The new Warkworth owner is Albany Toyota, which is also a family-run company.

The chief executive and company founder is Andrew MacKenzie, while the general manager is his son Hayden. Andrew’s wife Julie, who is also a director, manages service follow-up and administration, and daughter Shenae works in administration. As well, Hayden’s partner Chiara Soons is the company’s marketing manager.

The company formed in 1991 and as well as showrooms in Albany, it has parts and services depots in Whangaparaoa and Browns Bay.