Over 500 jobs at risk as Bathstore collapses into administration


After failing to secure a buyer, Bathstore, the UK’s biggest bathroom


specialist, has


collapsed into administration putting over 500 jobs at risk. The company has appointed the business services firm BDO as administrators, who said the retailer would continue to trade for now in the hope it could be sold as a going concern. So far, the administrators have not received any offers.


Bathstore has 132 stores


and 529 staff. Most employees – 405 people – are shop workers, while 124 are in the head office in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Ryan Grant, the joint administrator,


said: “Despite


significant investment into the business over the past five years, Bathstore has struggled to overcome the well-documented challenges facing the


Carpetright restructure produces positive results


The carpet and floorcoverings retailer, Carpetright, has announced its “business turnaround [is] on track with an encouraging return to positive like-for-like sales growth” in its full year results, following the group’s restructuring last year which saw pre-tax losses at Carpetright shrink to £24.8 million in the year to April 27, down from a loss of £69.8 million last year aftergroup said it


saw “significant


improvement” in second half trading, particularly Q4, with a return to like-for-like sales growth in the new financial year.


The UK operations saw 80 UK retail sector.


“The appointment was made after several months of difficult trading and the failure of ongoing talks to find a buyer for the business. Bathstore is continuing to trade in administration while the administrators seek a buyer.” He said Bathstore should


Wilf Walsh, Chief Executive, said: “From a trading standpoint it was, as expected, a year of two halves, with the first six months reflecting the impact of the CVA implementation, followed by a significant improvement in the second half and, in particular, during Q4. We are pleased to report today that this positive trend has continued into the new year with a return to like-for-like sales growth in the first eight weeks of the period, when UK LFL sales grew by 8.5%. “We remain the clear number player


one


stores closed as part of the CVA and 23 stores retained on a nil rent basis, however Carpetright has reported like-for-like sales in the first eight weeks of its new financial year as 8.5% up against the previous year, while in the rest of Europe it rose by 4.3%. Commenting on the results


in floorcoverings,


having maintained our market leadership during an exceptionally challenging period, and our brand attributes remain strong. Our work is far from finished, and while economic and political uncertainties cloud the near term outlook for the retail sector, our turnaround plan is very much on track.”


John Lewis customers can now return shopping to Waitrose delivery drivers


services to make online shopping as convenient and quick as possible.”


John Lewis customers can now return their purchases to Waitrose delivery drivers at the same time as they receive their groceries. The service means shoppers can return clothing and home purchases without leaving the comfort of their own home.


Having started on June 17,


Waitrose.com shoppers can now hand back parcels they have received from Johnlewis.com or Click & Collect for the driver to process immediately after their


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online grocery delivery has been made. The introduction of the service


follows a fulfilment successful


trial last year in 21 shops and customers of the supermarket’s customer Coulsdon.


centre in Ged Keogh-Peters, partner


and director supply chain strategy for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “Following the success of the trial we are pleased to be extending this service to even more customers. We are excited to be at the forefront of new


It forms part of the John Lewis Partnership’s strategy to leverage its supply chain and offer additional convenience to customers of both brands. The company’s research suggested that the majority of John Lewis customers want at least three different ways to return unwanted goods. and John Lewis customers can return online orders in John Lewis and Waitrose shops, through Collect+, Royal Mail and MyHermes.


John Lewis & Partners is also running a trial of its Next Day Click & Collect service with Co-op in areas where the John Lewis Partnership has a lower shop presence. This follows the success of the partnership with Booths, which launched last year and is now available in eight Booths shops.


be able to fulfil the majority of outstanding customer orders, although all installation services have ceased.


Customers will be contacted


directly but can


also find information on the company’s website. Bathstore made a pre- tax loss of £22m in the year to 31 July 2017 with sales of £141m, according to the last set of results filed with Companies


House. The loss exceptional


NEWS reflected


costs of £11m,


including a £5.4m writedown on the value of its stores and leases. It


also appointed a new chief executive, Ian Herrett, who joined in May 2018 from the builders’ merchants Wolseley UK. Its rival Better Bathrooms slumped into administration in March with the loss of 325 jobs, however it was confirmed less than two weeks later that the assets of BetterBathrooms (UK) Limited have been sold to Buy it Direct Ltd. The £1bn-a- year bathroom retail sector has been hit by the slowdown in the housing market and weak consumer confidence, with sales of big-ticket items particularly hard hit.


Lidl announces £500m expansion plan in London


Lidl has announced it plans to expand in London, with a new HQ as well as a new store in the heart of city, with a £500m investment plan. The investment is planned for the next five years and will help the retailer expand across the capital. Adding to its current estate of 88 stores within the M25,


this £500 million


commitment will enable Lidl to open over 40 new outlets in the capital, including in Alperton, East Acton, Hackbridge and Watford. These new store openings will also create around 1,500 additional jobs across Greater London in the long term. Lidl has revealed plans for a new store in Fitzrovia, on Tottenham Court Road, near Warren Street tube station. This will be Lidl’s most central London store and with a 1,300m² sales area, will stock its full range of products.


Included within Lidl GB’s London investment plan is its new head office, the construction


of which has already begun in Tolworth, south west London. With 250,000 sq. ft. of office space,


the building will


accommodate the retailer’s 800 head office employees, providing support for its growing store network.


The supermarket recently confirmed that it would also be expanding operations at its distribution centre in Belvedere, which services Lidl stores across South London. Investment in the warehouse, which first opened in 2001, will further support the discounter’s growth in the capital. This is in addition to a new distribution centre planned near Luton and will be the fourth to service Greater London.


Mill Race garden centre up for sale


Owner of Mill Race garden centre, Swallow Aquatics has announced it plans to sell the centre, as it takes away from its specialty in aquatics. The centre is located in Aldham, Colchester and is one of the largest garden centres in Essex.


Managing director of Swallow


Aquatics, Nick Seaby said in a statement: “After much consideration we are announcing our intention to sell Mill Race Garden Centre and Web-site as an on-going concern with Swallow Aquatics remaining as a tenant. “We purchased the garden 15


centre years ago and


have traded successfully and benefitted from the loyalty of both customers and our team. We are however specialists in Aquatics and are aware that a new operator could do more justice to the potential of the team and the opportunity that exists on the site and in Colchester. We therefore wish to see the business transition to new ownership and a prosperous future.” The Garden Centre benefits


from approximately 25 000 sq. ft. of internal space, an extensive planteria and coffee shop with access onto the river, and is located close to one of the fastest growing towns in the UK,


28 JUNE 2019 DIY WEEK 5


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