News
Published on 6 - May - 2011
B&Q to take over 31 ex-Focus stores
Parent firm announces that it has agreed to buy up to 31 leasehold properties from administrators for £23m.B&Q will refit the outlets and open them as new B&Q stores later this year. The location of the 31 stores has not yet been confirmed.
Kingfisher group chief executive Ian Cheshire said: "This is a good opportunity for us to accelerate our previously announced plans to expand B&Q into carefully targeted UK locations where we currently have no store representation. This will bring better choice and lower prices to customers and provide secure jobs and career prospects in these local communities."
Administrators Ernst & Young will continue to trade the stores until mid-July, when they will close and the existing workforce of around 700 will be made redundant. The deal with Kingfisher is for property alone and does not include stock or staff. However, a spokesperson for the the firm explained that B&Q would be recruiting a similar number of employees for its new stores and would welcome applications from former Focus staff.
The news confirms speculation that the Focus business is going to be broken up to be sold, with other retailers, including The Range's Chris Dawson, already eyeing stores in its 175-strong portfolio.
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By BARRY BOULDS
i would like b&q to take over a focus store in newport shropshire as it would give back to us a handy stores halfway between two other b&q stores
By paul haslett
is there a new store opening in woolston southampton.
By Don
Is there a list of the 55 stores that have been bought to date?
By Robert Fleming
By mrs morgan
b&q to buy focus stores - how many small shops will they put out of business in these areas whilst doing it !!
Well the Focus stores are already there so if the small shops were surviving before...duh!
By rob yardley.
i am employed at wincanton,on the focus ndc contract. tamworth ndc have announced they are to make redundancies owing to focus going into administration.nobody at tamworth seems to be getting any updates though.this to me and my workmates isnt good enough.
By mrs morgan
b&q to buy focus stores - how many small shops will they put out of business in these areas whilst doing it !!
21/02/2012 14:35:00
B&Q STORESBy BARRY BOULDS
i would like b&q to take over a focus store in newport shropshire as it would give back to us a handy stores halfway between two other b&q stores
21/02/2012 11:01:00
is there a new store in southamptonBy paul haslett
is there a new store opening in woolston southampton.
31/05/2011 10:51:00
Which Stores?By Don
Is there a list of the 55 stores that have been bought to date?
12/05/2011 12:55:00
B&Q to buy FocusBy Robert Fleming
By mrs morgan
b&q to buy focus stores - how many small shops will they put out of business in these areas whilst doing it !!
Well the Focus stores are already there so if the small shops were surviving before...duh!
11/05/2011 15:39:00
focus.diy'By rob yardley.
i am employed at wincanton,on the focus ndc contract. tamworth ndc have announced they are to make redundancies owing to focus going into administration.nobody at tamworth seems to be getting any updates though.this to me and my workmates isnt good enough.
09/05/2011 17:38:00
b&q to buy focusBy mrs morgan
b&q to buy focus stores - how many small shops will they put out of business in these areas whilst doing it !!
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12 comments
