US electricals giant Best Buy plans to launch as many as 200 stores in the UK over the long term, according to the Financial Times.

Last month, Retail Week revealed that Best Buy was planning to open 20 stores in the next year, but the new figure exceeds what analysts had expected, showing a far more aggressive expansion plan.

In May, Best Buy announced its intention to enter the UK with a£1.1 billion acquisition of 50 per cent of Carphone Warehouse’s retail division.

Best Buy will go head on against struggling UK rivals such as DSGi’s Currys and PC World, as well as Kesa’s Comet