Mini and Citroen were triumphant at last night's Motor Trader Industry Awards, the "Oscars" of the motor retailing trade, as they walked off with Car Franchise of the Year award and Best Car Advertising Campaign Award respectively.

The Motor Trader Industry Awards span 22 categories rewarding the best performing companies and individuals in the UK motor trade. "Although last year was a tough one for retailers, with 2008 looking to be tougher still, once again the clear message which came across from the judging process was that many individuals and companies were not content to sit back and wait for conditions to improve," said Motor Trader editor, Curtis Hutchinson.

While new cars sales slowed down for many brands in 2007, Mini grew its market share by 25 per cent to over 47,600 sales; significantly more than many longer established brands. Mini's achievement is all the more remarkable as its incredible success story has been primarily based on the desirability of its three-door hatchback which, like its precursor, has been successfully modified into convertible, estate and performance derivatives. Mini has delivered BMW dealers a welcome boost and opened up the franchise to new customers. The brand's extraordinary success since it launched in 2001 has seen it become a valued and admired franchise throughout the motor trade. The judges also praised the success of its popular TLC extended warranty package and the success of its used car business, while also recognising its excellent latest generation models.

Citroen scooped the Best Car Advertising Campaign Award for their "Unmistakeably German" advert for the new Citroen C5 beating Ford's "Beautifully Arranged" advert for the Focus and Volkswagen's "Enjoy the Everyday" advert for the Golf.

The campaign addressed Citroen's upmarket aspirations for its new C5 by suggesting it as an alternative to the traditional premium cars from Germany. With tongue firmly in cheek and to the strains of Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, the brand amusingly stated its intentions in an unforgettable 60 second slot created by Euro RSCG. No German cliché is left untouched as the advertisement takes its blonde hero from a swashbuckling duel outside a gothic castle to the Brandenberg Gates and builds up to its pay-off line; "Unmistakeably German. Made in France". The judges' praised Citroen for delivering a memorable and witty campaign which breaks with traditional car advertising.

Vertu Motors PLC were triumphant in the Dealer Group of the Year Award. As a newcomer to the UK car retailing sector in late 2006 the publically listed Vertu Motors has established and developed an impressive and commercially successful business. Trading as Bristol Street Motors its stated aim was to acquire and consolidate UK businesses and that is exactly what it has done with a series of strategic purchases which has given the fledgling group a good geographical spread and made it a major force in the UK car retailing sector.

The management focus is on increasing new and used sales and aftersales services in all its acquired businesses through improving levels of efficiency and providing exceptional customer service. Bristol Street's high profile success is making it a force to be reckoned with and a popular business amongst its employees and customers.

Crown Honda of Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire possibly had the biggest smiles on their faces as winners in an unprecedented four categories - Customer Care Award, Aftermarket Award, Sales Manager of the Year Award and Franchised Dealership of the Year.

The Motor Trader Industry Awards, held on 16 July at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's West End, are possibly the most rigorous in the industry as roving judges are dispatched to visit, interview and assess shortlisted entrants. The full list of results from the Motor Trader Industry Awards is as follows:

Motor Trade Business Management Award
Sponsored by Trevor Jones & ASE
WINNER
Michele Negus (Norton Way Motors)

Most Improved Business Award
Sponsored by Autoprotect
WINNER
Now Motor Retailing

Customer Care Award
Sponsored by Car Care Plan
WINNER
Crown Honda
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Morrisons (Land Rover)
Perrys Aston Clinton

Innovation Award
Sponsored by 2nd Byte
WINNER
Trade Parts Specialists

Training Award
Sponsored by BDO
WINNER
Land Rover
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bank of Scotland Dealer Finance

Marketing Award
Sponsored by Auto Trader
WINNER
Drive Motor Retail
Highly Commended
Lifestyle Europe

Website of the Year Award
Sponsored by Motors.co.uk
WINNER
T C Harrison
HIGHLY COMMENDED
SMC

Industry Excellence Award
Sponsored by IMI
WINNER
Motability Operations

Used Car Retailer of the Year Award
Sponsored by Norwich Union Direct Driveaway Insurance
WINNER
Essex Audi Group
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Thurlby Motors

Aftermarket Award
Sponsored by Mobil1
WINNER
Crown Honda

Bodyshop Award
Sponsored by Royal and Sun Alliance
WINNER
Alton Cars
HIGHLY COMMENDED
DWS Bodyworks

Independent Garage Award
Sponsored by Xpart
WINNER
Dorking Service Centre
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Collison Motoring Services

Best Car Advertising Campaign Award
Sponsored by The Warranty Group
WINNER
Citroen C5 (Unmistakeably German)

LCV Dealer Award
Sponsored by Bank of Scotland
WINNER
Anchor Van Centre

Car Franchise of the Year Award
Sponsored by Mondial Assistance
Mini UK

Service Adviser of the Year Award
Sponsored by Castrol Professional
WINNER
Victoria Taylor (Poole Audi)

Sales Team of the Year Award
Sponsored by Mapfre Abraxas
WINNER
Norton Way Motors
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Aberdeen Audi

Sales Manager of the Year Award
Sponsored by Dealerweb
WINNER
Steve Tucker (Crown Honda)

Dealer Principal of the Year Award
Sponsored by Accident Exchange
WINNER
David Wallington (Merritts Jaguar)

Franchised Dealership of the Year Award
Sponsored by Experian
WINNER
Crown Honda (Bushey Heath)
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Phoenix BMW (Kirkaldy)

Dealer Group of the Year Award
Sponsored by HPI
Vertu Motors

Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award
Sponsored by Norwich Union
Trevor Jones