Cycle servicing start-up Fettle bought by Kwik Fit

Bicycle servicing start-up Fettle has been acquired by Kwik Fit for an undisclosed sum.

The deal, which transfers 100% ownership of Fettle to Kwik Fit, comes after Fleet News revealed Kwik Fit was working with the bike repair specialist last year, to introduce a service and repair proposition.

Kwik Fit said that the success and subsequent growth of the partnership, with joint centres in Bristol, north and south London, has resulted in the acquisition becoming the logical strategy for the two companies.

The Fettle management team will remain with the business, with Jeyda Heselton, who founded Fettle in 2019, continuing to lead the company. 

Heselton said: “We established Fettle with a clear mission: to revolutionise the service experience in the UK's cycling industry.

“Joining the Kwik Fit organisation is a pivotal step in this journey, providing an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate expansion as we can now leverage Kwik Fit's extensive network which is well located to service consumers, manufacturers and fleets.”

Fettle and Kwik Fit say that are ideally positioned to support the increasing number of businesses using fleets of e-bikes and e-cargo bikes for 'last mile' deliveries with a reliable, nationwide service network.

Mark Slade, managing director of Kwik Fit, said: “In a world where mobility is changing rapidly, we are seeing many of our customers diversify their modes of travel, and businesses are broadening the make-up of their fleets, especially for 'last mile' deliveries and services.

“Integrating Fettle into Kwik Fit centres embraces this shift and enables us to offer comprehensive mobility solutions under one roof with support for bicycles, e-bikes, and cargo bikes complementing our established automotive services.”

Slade explained that from its inception, Fettle has been an innovator in customer service, cultivating a strong brand centred on excellence and trust.

“With Kwik Fit's acquisition of Fettle, we are not just broadening our service spectrum; we are also reinforcing Fettle's customer-centric ethos,” he added.

“Leveraging Kwik Fit's extensive support, we aim to enhance the overall experience for our customers.

“This acquisition will also enable an acceleration in the rollout of the Fettle network that would have been more challenging for it to achieve independently.

“This combination ushers in a new era in servicing the UK’s mobility needs where efficiency, customer satisfaction and innovation stand at the forefront."

There will be no interruption to service as a result of the change in ownership, with existing employees remaining with the company and all current services and locations being maintained.

Read how online bookings and EV service transform Kwik Fit proposition for fleets.