The Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships is Delmarva’s No. 1 dealer with 21 dealerships, 36 franchises, four collision centers and 19 manufacturers throughout Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Colorado. While many dealership groups Hertrich’s size have chosen to have “auto group” as part of their name, Hertrich has always elected for the name to instead remain the Hertrich Family of Dealerships.
The Hertriches have been in the automotive business since 1903 when Fred Hertrich came over from Munich, Germany. He started as a gear maker before ending his 46-year-career as a company production engineer for Buick. John Arthur Nyland (grandfather of current president Fred Hertrich III) started his career as a staff engineer with Easton Axle Co. before ending his
36-year career as a staff engineer for Buick.
Hertrich says the company’s philosophy has always been pretty simple: Sell cars and satisfy customers. That said, company leaders created a mission statement five years ago that they refer to as a “destination statement” because they believed it was necessary to set an audacious goal to keep everyone moving forward. Hertrich’s mission statement: “The Hertrich Family is a world-class customer service and sales organization that attracts and advances the most impactful individuals in the retail automotive industry,” is supported by five core values, and officials say every employee can explain both the mission and the values to a customer or visitor.
Hertrich leadership believe in recognizing the efforts of employees and they apply that approach to people in the community. Each generation tries to identify individuals in the community who are working to make a difference and support them in any way that it can. That may include helping coaches get uniforms for their Little League team and helping fund a nursing school. The company is involved in six county teacher of the year programs; with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware; and with Autism Delaware.
Headquarters:
Seaford
Founded:
1963
Industry:
Automotive
Full-time employees:
1,000-plus over 21 dealerships
Family members:
4
Website:
hertrichs.com
Fun fact:
When Fred Hertrich III opened Frederick Ford in 1975, he was the youngest Ford dealer in the world at age 27.
