May 1988
Management shareholders complete management buyout from MCL, supported by TMY Corporation and Lloyds Development Capital Ltd (LDCL)
December 1991
ADL wins inaugural Supplier of the Year award from the Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF), the UK trade association representing manufacturers, importers and independent wholesale distributors
May 1992
ADL relocates distribution centre and offices to Marden, Kent.
June 1993
The management & TMY purchase LDCL's shares
May 1994
The Blue Print brand is launched
December 1994
Awarded ISO9002 Part II Quality Standard
March 1995
Formal European distribution established
November 1995
Blue Print wins the Autotrade magazine Best Packaging of the Year award
August 1996
Electronic Catalogue Technical and Reference System (ECTARS) launched for customers. ECTARS went on to be a finalist in the Most Useful Product category at the 1997 Autotrade awards
January 1997
ADL celebrates its 10th Anniversary
July 1997
The Blue Print sponsored “Woosnam Course” opens at the Dale Hill Golf Club in Flimwell, East Sussex. A celebrity pro-am event is organised to mark the opening of the course, featuring Kenny Dalglish, Sam Torrence and the course designer, 1991 US Masters winner Ian Woosnam.
October 1998
Building work commissioned to increase the capacity of the Marden distribution centre by 25%
May 1999
ADL wins the Automotive Trade Show Best Stand at Show award
December 1999
ADL wins the ADF Supplier of the Year award for the second time
September 2001
ADL nominated as UK distributor for DENSO spark plugs
December 2002
ADL wins the ADF Supplier of the Year award for a record third time
November 2003
ADL awarded BS ISO9001:2000 Quality Standard. Bar coding system introduced to the Marden distribution centre.
December 2003
ADL wins a second consecutive and fourth overall ADF Supplier of the Year award
January 2004
ADL opens its first overseas branch in Lisbon, Portugal. ADL Sucursal em Portugal (ADL SeP) begins trading to wholesale businesses in Portugal, Spain and Angola
March 2004
Brand new Blue Print catalogue format launched in the UK. The vehicle led format was a departure from the traditional product led approach and was received with great enthusiasm by UK customers
June 2004
Blue Print website launched
September 2004
ECTARS Evolution, a dynamic update of the Blue Print electronic catalogue system, is launched
November 2004
ADL achieves the Investors in People accreditation
February 2005
Blue Print launches a revolutionary business-to-business tool to customers across Europe. Blue Print Live! not only provides Blue Print customers with an online catalogue, it also allows them to carry out many other functions, such as checking stock availability or ordering, via the internet for the first time.
Click here for Blue Print LIVE!
December 2005
ADL wins the ADF supplier of the Year award for an unprecedented fifth time
March 2007
ADL achieves its first ever £3m sales month
May 2007
New Blue Print website is launched
August 2007
As sales continue to grow month on month, ADL invests in additional warehousing at its Marden headquarters to give extra capacity. A significant investment, but one vital to allow company growth and still provide the unparalleled level of service our customers have come to expect.
December 2007
ADL Wins the ADF Supplier of the Year award for the sixth time.
March 2008
New ADL Logo Launched
April 2008
ADL’s Spanish subsidiary – ADL España S.l. – opens for business
May 2008
“Blue Print Rally” raises over £24,000 for charity.
Click here for more details
June 2008
ADL’s Italian subsidiary – ADL Italia S.r.l. – opens for business
July 2008
ADL extends the scope of the Blue Print product offer by launching a comprehensive range of parts for American vehicles
July 2008
ADL achieves its first ever £3.5m sales month
October 2008
ADL invests in a third warehouse for its Marden headquarters to give extra capacity.
February 2009
Blue Print 3 Year warranty launched
March 2009
ADL achieves its first ever £4.5m sales month
May 2009
Blue Print launches new website for garage repairers.
Click here for more details
January 2011
100% of the shares in ADL are acquired by febi bilstein and ADL becomes part of the febi bilstein group
