TURNOVER at tyre processing company Tyreserve is expected to treble, and staff numbers to double at its Coventry headquarters this year, following its purchase by the AA.

Fleet News revealed last month that the AA expected to improve its service to fleets by investing in the business, which allows fleets to order tyres online or by phone from a network of independent suppliers.

The Tyreserve deal represents a new element in the AA's business-to-business offering, following the purchase last August of 129 Halford's garages for £5.75 million. They are being rebranded as AA Service Centres.

Tyreserve is now recruiting additional staff at its call centre in Coventry as the addition of AA branding has boosted demand for the service.

David Goodyear, general manager of Tyreserve, said: 'We are about to go through an exhilarating period of rapid growth.

'Turnover is set to increase substantially and we will need to take on extra staff. Part of the growth will come from business that we were already in the process of taking on board when we were acquired and the rest will come from maximising the potential of our links with the AA. We will be making announcements about this soon.

'Many parties which recognised the potential of our business a few months ago, but wanted to wait and see us establish a track record, are once again talking to us, thanks to the credibility of the AA's involvement.'

Tyreserve was launched in December 2000 with the aim of shaking up the 'stale' fleet fast-fit market. It was backed by £2 million from Stapleton's Tyre Services.

Retail tyre outlets that are members of Tyreserve are linked online through a dedicated website, allowing the service to offer fleets one bill for national service, while also allowing fleet managers access to account details and reports online.

Goodyear, a former national accounts director with Kwik-Fit Fleet, initially joined as managing director and said interest from industry had been immediate. Tyreserve has access to a total of 2,980 outlets – 630 independent fast-fit centres, 1,850 franchised car dealers and 500 mobile units.