Dunelm acquires Irish soft furnishings retailer to expand presence in a new market

The retailer has acquired Home Focus, a group with 13 stores across Ireland with an online site providing home delivery and a click-and-reserve option for shoppers to collect in-store.

It specialises in fabrics and specific home categories such as curtains and bedding.

Dunelm said the deal is an “attractive opportunity” to connect with more customers in a new market and it looks forward to onboarding Home Focus’ 140 colleagues.

Through Home Focus’ portfolio of smaller stores, Dunelm said it sees potential to offer a “broader range” of products in Home Focus shops, in line with its smaller-format sites in the UK.

The retailer will review new opportunities for stores across Ireland and could build a more “comprehensive” online proposition over time.

Dunelm chief executive Nick Wilkinson said the group has found a “high-quality and complementary business” in Home Focus with a “shared heritage in home textiles and strong values, which stem from family ownership”. 

“We see a clear opportunity to introduce more choice and value into the offer that Home Focus has built for its customers,” he added.

“With an established national store footprint and expertise in mutual growth areas like made-to-measure, we’re confident that Home Focus will help us to continue unlocking our full potential.

“We’re proud to be embarking on this journey with Home Focus and investing in the next stage of its story, where we look forward to providing further opportunities for colleague development, creating additional jobs, and supporting local communities.”

Home Focus managing director Ian Donnelly said: “With around 80 years in business, we have been looking for a new custodian to take Home Focus into its next chapter. Dunelm immediately struck us as having a clear cultural fit, with a strong team guided by sound values and focused on investing for long-term growth.”