A FAMILY business that started life with just two trucks has become one of the country's biggest Mercedes Benz dealers.

Ted Rygor set up HE Rygor and Son 44 years ago as a transporting business on the West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury.

The family business now has an annual turnover of £100m a year and employs 400 staff.

Alan Mullen, group service manager, described the company's successful growth at a Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce business breakfast at Cumberwell Park Golf Club on Friday.

In the 1980s the company changed the colour of its trucks from red to white.

It won contracts to transport products such as Coca Cola and Panda soft drinks.

The company diversified, buying a warehouse and carrying out motor repairs. In 1986 it became a group holding company called Rygor Group.

Rygor's big break came in 1986 when Mercedes Benz asked if the company wanted to be their truck and van dealer in Wiltshire.

Now Rygor has dealerships across the country, making them the third largest Mercedes truck and van dealership in the UK.

Mr Mullen said: "It's colossal but the company has always retained its family element."

He said commercial growth has led to less freedom compared to when Rygor was a small family business.

"Now Mercedes Benz decides everything to do with the corporate image, such as what colour our reception room is and how many flags we have outside," he said.

Mr Mullen, who has worked at Rygor for 20 years, once succeeded in selling his own company car to the captain of a Boeing 777 when he was on the way to Dubai.

Owner Ted Rygor said: "Our success is due to the loyalty and hard work of the directors, manager and all members of staff, down to the lad that makes tea. I thank everyone and look forward to continued success.