Retail Solutions - Rubicon picks Retail Assist to help develop IT

Rubicon Retail, owner of fashion chains Warehouse and Principles, has signed a five-year contract with Retail Assist to support and develop its IT systems.

Retail Assist will provide desktop support and development at Rubicon's head office, stores and warehouses. Rubicon runs 179 Warehouse shops, 74 Principles stores and 144 concessions.

Rubicon has divided responsibility for its technology and outsourced it to different companies. It put DTS Logistics in charge of distribution systems. Merret software is running buying and supply chain systems and Northgate IS is running payroll and HR systems.

The group was created as a result of the management buyout of Hawkshead, Racing Green, Principles and Warehouse from Arcadia Group. Hawkshead and Racing Green were recently sold on to Retail Variations and Speciality Retail Group.