CHARTING Mangoletsi's rise to the top proved to be quite tricky for MD, Fraser Hudson, as many early records and photographs have been lost. However, after lengthy discussions with customers and motor trade colleagues Fraser has been able to piece together a potted history.

The original owners, the Mangoletsi family, were well known throughout Cheshire," says Fraser.

"They used to have a showroom and garage which specialised in fine tuning Army tanks during World War II. Then they then found a niche market within the sports and racing car circuits."

In 1967, the Mangoletsi family bought a plot of land on the A50, near Knutsford, an area which had previously housed a transport café and bungalow. The site was to become the now well-known Mangoletsi dealership.

Within just a year of starting their Knutsford operation, the family were forced to sell the company to business partners Alan Edge and Brian Moffat who at that time owned and ran a boat building business in Chichester. They had been involved with the Mangoletsi family tuning their marine engines for some years previously.

Although the Mangoletsi family were no longer a permanent presence, their name lived on.

Then, in 1968, the partners made one of their most crucial business decisions, they agreed to take on the Alfa Romeo franchise in October. At the time, Alfa Romeo was an unknown entity in the UK - but thanks to Edge and Moffat - and later of course, to Fraser Hudson - Mangoletsi helped put the Italian brand on the UK map.

"The company experimented with a range of franchise options at first - at one time, they sold Ferrari and Jaguar cars, at another they concentrated on Mercedes," says Fraser. But once they started selling Alfa Romeos, Mangoletsi's name became known throughout Cheshire as the leading motor dealership for the premier Italian brand.

It was in 1985 that Fraser agreed to work for Mangoletsi. Then a 20-year-old Rolls Royce and Ferrari salesman at Strattoms, in Wilmslow, Fraser had big business ideas and endless energy. He wanted to start out on his own - but Alan and Brain persuaded him to give Mangoletsi a try, instead.

"I remember Fraser and being very energetic," says Alan. "He was full of what I call practical enthusiasm. He was looking for more than just a job, he was looking for a future - and I knew Mangoletsi could offer him that." Fraser certainly proved to be a lifeline for the business, completely turning around its fortunes. "I didn't have many days off in those days, and I had a lot of energy!" says Fraser. But it was his belief in the cars he was selling, that really cemented the company's future. Such was his commitment, and his resolve that Mangoletsi was at the start of a brilliant future, that Fraser bought shares in the company in 1990 and later that year, on September 1, was appointed Managing Director. "At that time, I was only 25 and I was the youngest MD of a car dealership anywhere in the country," explains Fraser, who last year became the sole owner of Mangoletsi.

In 1993, soon after Fiat took over Alfa Romeo, Fraser agreed to take on the Fiat franchise at Mangoletsi, knocking down a bungalow that was at the site and building a brand new Fiat showroom with additional offices and parts and sales facilities above, "It made sound commercial sense for me to do it," explains Fraser. The decision had a dramatic impact on the company. "Our Fiat sales were tremendous," says Fraser. "In 1996, for example, we sold over 1,000 new Fiats in 12 months.

"Last year annual turnover topped £20 million. "It's a phenomenal achievement really, when you consider that most dealerships have an average turnover of just £8 million. It goes to show we are a far larger organisation than most people imagine", says Fraser.

In 2002 we doubled the retail capacity of the workshops at our showrooms from seven to fourteen ramps and increased our number of courtesy cars to thirty. We were able to do this by opening a purpose designed off-site vehicle preparation, valeting and storage facility for up to two hundred vehicles. This is where all our new and previously owned vehicles are prepared to consistently high standards."

At the beginning of 2003, work was completed on doubling the size of the Alfa Romeo showroom, making it the largest of its kind in the UK. New offices were also built, and the on-site petrol pumps removed, making even more room to display Mangoletsi's extensive range of 100-plus previously owned cars.

"We are very good at selling used cars because our customers know that we offer superb choice, high quality preparation with a compressive warranty, and all at very keen prices. We have a full time used car buyer who will find the car that a customer wants even if it is not in stock. The after-sales treatment they receive is of just as high a standard as for new car sales," adds Fraser.