B&M is one of the fastest growing retailers in the UK and also one of the leading variety discounters. Originally founded in 1978, it has been led by brothers Simon and Bobby Arora since they acquired the business in 2004. By March 2019, B&M traded through 620 B&M stores across the UK, taking it two-thirds of the way to its recently increased target of 950. It is investing in technology and infrastructure to support this expansion, including new warehouse management and voice picking systems, with a 1 million sq ft new southern distribution centre due to become operational in early 2020. B&M has expanded internationally through the acquisition of the German-based Jawoll business in 2014 and Babou stores in France in 2018. It also increased its presence in the UK through the acquisition of 250-store food retailer Heron Foods in August 2017, which has become the basis of a growing convenience store business.
Value retailer B&M has completed the sale of its German business Jawoll, five months after opening a strategic review into its performance.
B&M has snapped up general merchandise competitor Wilko’s chief financial officer Alex Russo for the same role at its own business.
B&M has recorded an uplift in sales over the festive period, although boss Simon Arora says the value retailer posted “a slower performance than anticipated.”
Retail Week looks back at the most groundbreaking retail stories of the 2010s.
The usually infallible B&M posted a subdued set of interim results this morning.
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