June 2019 ertonline.co.uk


Steamer Trading brand to close


It has been reported that ProCook is to close the Steamer Trading brand, and eight of its stores across the country will close. ProCook will take over the 13 remaining stores. This comes after ProCook acquired Steamer


Trading Cookshop back in January but efforts to save the business have been unsuccessful since then. The developments will take place over the next few weeks and will take the total number of ProCook locations across the UK to 50, broadening the retailer’s presence from out-of-town outlets and leisure destinations to town centre locations. The eight Steamer Trading stores due to close


are: Beverley, Chichester, Horsham, Lymington, Northallerton, Saffron Walden, Southampton and St Albans.


The new ProCook stores will be: Bishop’s Stortford,


Bury St Edmunds, Chester, Cirencester, Harrogate, Thame, Bath (hitherto Kitchens), Bristol (hitherto Kitchens), Brighton, Dorchester, Eastbourne, Lewes and Truro. ProCook owner, Daniel O’Neill, said: “It’s a sad day for the Steamer Trading brand, but even with our best efforts the model is not viable and therefore we’re forced to close a few stores.” Read more on the ERT website.


Alltrade celebrates 30 years of success


Alltrade is celebrating three decades of growth distributing aerial, satellite, IRS, CI and smart home products to the trade. First opening in 1989, the brand has grown to now encompass six fully-stocked trade counter


warehouses


across the South of England, a website and a comprehensive, award-winning free training calendar for its customers. “Like any successful business with three decades of trading behind it, Alltrade has


continued to evolve and adapt to the mark et,” said Steve Simper, Alltrade MD, pictured with the Alltrade team at the Brighton and Hove headquarters. “From originally supplying aerial and satellite


hardware from a single shop-front unit, we grew through Sky and later Sky Digital, terrestrial TV switchover and adapted to encompass commercial


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IRS and fi bre distribution. The CI market presented a huge opportunity for the business and we now stock a comprehensive portfolio of AV, HVAC and security products, backed up by our free planning and specifying service, over-the-counter or next-day delivery and a broad range of training programmes.” Read more on the ERT website.


Sound United negotiates acquisition of Onkyo Corporation’s Home Audio Division


Sound United, the parent company to Denon, Polk Audio, Marantz, Defi nitive Technology, HEOS, Classé, and B oston Acoustics, has announced that it has entered into a term sheet agreement to acquire Onkyo Corporation’s consumer audio division, including the Onkyo, Pioneer, Pioneer Elite, and Integra brands. Kevin Duffy, current CEO for Sound United, will be CEO of the newly combined businesses. The transaction refl ects a continued focus by Sound United to meet consumer demand for the best- sounding and most technologically advanced audio products available. Said Mr Duffy: “Sound United is one of the leading dedicated providers of premium audio/ video products, and we believe the combined businesses will bring unrivalled innovation and sound


performance to our consumers and channel partners.”


Sound United said it is eager to invest in the development of new products with the added benefi t of Onkyo and Pioneer’s extensive legacy of innovation.


Onkyo Corporation will retain the rights to the Pioneer and Onkyo brands for the purposes of their Digital Life and Embedded Audio businesses. Despite the planned acquisition, distribution arrangements will remain the same in Europe and the USA, with Aqipa continuing to distribute Onkyo and Pioneer products in Europe. The completion of the transaction is subject to various normal-course conditions precedent, including approvals at the Annual General Meeting later this month.


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