Norton Group Holdings
| Industry | Home improvement retailers |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | |
Key people | Chris Dawson |
| Brands | The Range Wilko Homebase |
Norton Group Holdings Limited is a British holding company of home improvement retailers including The Range, Wilko and Homebase, as well as a concession partnership with the Iceland supermarket chain. It is owned by Chris Dawson.
History
[edit]In 1980, Chris Dawson began as an open-air market trader in Plymouth, later opening a retail store on Sugar Mill Business Park in 1989. Initially trading as Chris Dawson Superstores (CDS), the name would later change to The Range in the early 1990s.[1] The Range would then later grow into a major retailer across the United Kingdom, with Norton Group Holdings becoming the ultimate owning company.[2]
In September 2023, the company acquired the brand and digital assets of discount retailer Wilko for £5,000,000 after Wilko's parent company collapsed into administration a month earlier.[3] In October 2023, Norton Group Holdings said that the company would open 5 new stand-alone Wilko stores “before Christmas". This came just under 3 weeks after the collapsed retailer ceased operations.[4] This would include a store in both Plymouth and Exeter, two in the southeast, and one in the north.[5] By 29 March 2024, Wilko stores had opened in Plymouth, Exeter, Luton, St Albans, and Rotherham, with an additional store planned to open in Poole in August 2024.[6][7]
In July 2024, it was reported that Norton Group Holdings was exploring a takeover deal of DIY chain Homebase from Hilco Capital.[8]
In November 2024, Norton Group Holdings rescued Homebase from administration, safeguarding 1,500 jobs with up to 75 stores saved.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Range owner Chris Dawson sees wealth surge to £2.5bn". Yahoo News. 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ "The Range turnover tops £760m as profits grow". www.insightdiy.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ "Wilko brand bought by The Range in £5m deal". BBC News. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
- ^ Jones, Stephen (2023-10-27). "Standalone Wilko stores to return to the UK under 'aggressive' rollout plans". The Grocer. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
- ^ "Five Wilko shops to reopen before Christmas". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ Cannon, Finley (2023-11-03). "Wilko set to open in Luton with 80 new employees". Bedfordshire Live. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ^ Cunningham, Ed (2024-03-28). "Wilko is opening 300 new UK stores – here's the full list of confirmed locations so far". Time Out United Kingdom. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ Hill, Eloise (2024-07-21). "Homebase owner approached by The Range as it eyes sale - Retail Gazette". Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ "The Range closes in on chunk of Homebase in pre-pack sale". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-11-13.