CDS Superstores, owner of The Range, acquires the Homebase brand and 70 stores.
- The acquisition includes Homebase’s brand name and intellectual property rights.
- Homebase stores will transition to The Range stores while keeping Homebase’s heritage.
- This move aims to save up to 1,600 jobs, though uncertainty remains for some employees.
- CDS’s plans include doubling their store estate within four to five years.
CDS Superstores, the entity behind The Range, has successfully acquired the Homebase brand, including its intellectual property and up to 70 of its UK stores. This acquisition allows CDS to retain Homebase’s online presence while transitioning physical stores to The Range branding. The change aims to harmonise traditional Homebase expertise with The Range’s broader product selection.
CEO Alex Simpkin has emphasised the strategic intent behind this transition, highlighting the combination of offerings from both The Range and Homebase. The transformation of these stores is designed to integrate an array of products across garden, showroom, and DIY categories, thus preserving the core strengths and heritage of Homebase while enhancing customer options.
The transaction is also set against a backdrop of employment concerns. The deal is poised to save approximately 1,600 Homebase jobs; however, the future for employees at the retailer’s other 60 stores remains undefined. CDS Superstores has extended a priority for affected workers to apply for vacancies within its existing stores, potentially mitigating job losses.
In relation to its recent activities, CDS Superstores had earlier acquired Wilko, opening six stores and preparing to launch a seventh in Uxbridge. This acquisition trail forms part of a larger growth strategy, with CDS planning to significantly expand its retail footprint by more than doubling its estate in the next four to five years. Simpkin believes that securing the Homebase brand will provide opportunities to tap into new markets and connect with wider communities.
CDS Superstores’ acquisition of Homebase represents a strategic expansion, leveraging brand strengths while addressing employment challenges.
