One of the UK’s leading ‘variety retailers’ is continuing to invest in Bedford with plans to open a second store in the town on Riverfield Drive.
Retailer, B&M Stores, which sells “a range of cheap home, furniture and living products, including kitchenware, home decor and more” already has a Home Store on London Road.
It’s now looking to take over the former Homebase store on Riverfield Drive which closed in November.
A planning application to extend the range of products that can be sold in that building is currently awaiting approval from Bedford Borough Council at a date yet to be announced.
It follows news early last year that B&M were set to help create 1,000 new jobs at “one of the largest distribution facilities in the UK” on land off Hardwick Hill near Elstow and Wixams.
As reported by the BBC in April 2018, Simon Arora, chief executive of B&M Retail Ltd, said: “Our continued nationwide growth has allowed us to invest approximately £100m in what will be one of the largest distribution facilities in the UK.
“We are delighted to be coming to Bedford and will be recruiting in 2019 as the building approaches completion.”
B&M’s distribution centre will cover 22 acres (91,000² m) and is due to open this year.
The business is one of the fastest growing retailers in the UK, posting a pre-tax profit in 2017 of £182.9m and employing over 28,000 people.
We have contacted B&M for further comment.
