Powakaddy
Encyclopedia
PowaKaddy or PowaKaddy International Limited is a golf equipment
manufacturing company based in Sittingbourne
, Kent
, Great Britain
that specialises in electric golf trolley
s.
PowaKaddy's main business is electric golf trolleys but it also produces an range of manual push or pull trolleys, golf bags and other accessories. The original PowaKaddy Classic, as it was called, was invented in 1983 by Joe Catford, who along with John Martin launched the product from a small factory in Sittingbourne
. Since then, PowaKaddy has dominated the market in the United Kingdom
to such an extent, that the PowaKaddy brand name has become synonymous with the electric golf trolley.
. The company has changed hands several times in its history. Catford sold the company to Iranian born Farzad Rastagar in circa 1990. Around ten years later, Rastagar changed hands following a management buyout
by John DeGraft Johnson, David Wells and Mike Snapes along with Close Brothers Private Equity. In 2004, Fergus O'Rafferty and Rossa McDermot, backed by Graphite Capital
, bought PowaKaddy. After a difficult two and a half years caused by the failing P5 product, Powakaddy went into administration in November 2006, since when it has been run by Barclays Ventures after which, most sourcing was made from the Far East.
Following the problems with P5 the group launched the Freeway II was launched. This new and innovative product had push button controls but was dogged with quality issues and was discontinued at the end of 2010 and replaced with the Freeway Sport. Despite the issues in the field PowaKaddy still enjoys the number one brand leading position.
Golf equipment
Golf equipment encompasses the various items that are used to play the sport of golf. Types of equipment include the golf ball itself, implements designed for striking the golf ball, devices that aid in the process of playing a stroke, and items that in some way enrich the playing...
manufacturing company based in Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne is an industrial town about eight miles east of Gillingham in England, beside the Roman Watling Street off a creek in the Swale, a channel separating the Isle of Sheppey from mainland Kent...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
that specialises in electric golf trolley
Electric golf trolley
An electric golf trolley is a battery powered cart that is designed to carry a golf bag, complete with clubs and other golf equipment. It eliminates the need for golfers to carry their own clubs or hire a caddy, and requires much less effort than a manual push or pull trolley.Electric golf trolleys...
s.
PowaKaddy's main business is electric golf trolleys but it also produces an range of manual push or pull trolleys, golf bags and other accessories. The original PowaKaddy Classic, as it was called, was invented in 1983 by Joe Catford, who along with John Martin launched the product from a small factory in Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne is an industrial town about eight miles east of Gillingham in England, beside the Roman Watling Street off a creek in the Swale, a channel separating the Isle of Sheppey from mainland Kent...
. Since then, PowaKaddy has dominated the market in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to such an extent, that the PowaKaddy brand name has become synonymous with the electric golf trolley.
History
In 1983, Joe Catford, along with John Martin launched the PowaKaddy Classic from a small factory in SittingbourneSittingbourne
Sittingbourne is an industrial town about eight miles east of Gillingham in England, beside the Roman Watling Street off a creek in the Swale, a channel separating the Isle of Sheppey from mainland Kent...
. The company has changed hands several times in its history. Catford sold the company to Iranian born Farzad Rastagar in circa 1990. Around ten years later, Rastagar changed hands following a management buyout
Management buyout
A management buyout is a form of acquisition where a company's existing managers acquire a large part or all of the company.- Overview :Management buyouts are similar in all major legal aspects to any other acquisition of a company...
by John DeGraft Johnson, David Wells and Mike Snapes along with Close Brothers Private Equity. In 2004, Fergus O'Rafferty and Rossa McDermot, backed by Graphite Capital
Graphite Capital
Graphite Capital Management is a private equity firm focused on middle market leveraged buyout investments, primarily in the UK. The firm also houses a fund of funds platform that invests in other private equity funds across Europe and the US...
, bought PowaKaddy. After a difficult two and a half years caused by the failing P5 product, Powakaddy went into administration in November 2006, since when it has been run by Barclays Ventures after which, most sourcing was made from the Far East.
Following the problems with P5 the group launched the Freeway II was launched. This new and innovative product had push button controls but was dogged with quality issues and was discontinued at the end of 2010 and replaced with the Freeway Sport. Despite the issues in the field PowaKaddy still enjoys the number one brand leading position.