Electricals giant Best Buy is to open its first UK store earlier than expected - a week on Friday, April 30.

Best Buy’s first big blue box had been expected to make its debut in early May but the much anticipated showdown with UK maket leader DSGi - owner of Currys and PC World - and Kesa-owned Comet will come in time for the bank holiday weekend.

The retailer, which is opening in this country in partnership with Carphone Warehouse, promised a “four-day launch festival” with “amazing deals” at its Thurrock shop.

Best Buy, which has built its business model around “customer-centricity”, intends to open between 70 and 80 UK stores by 2013. At present it has four premises - in Southampton’s Hedge End, Aintree, Merry Hill and Thurrock.

It is likely to face tougher competition than it may have expected when it revealed plans to launch here in 2008. Since then, the renewal and transformation plan initiated by DSGi chief executive John Browett has transformed the business through improved service and revamped shops, including megastores.