APRIL 2008 April 2008 - Toyzone has been rescued from administration and sold to York-based toy and stationery distributor JA Magson, with 200 jobs being saved. Administrators David Crawshaw and Richard Hill of KMPG confirmed the sale of the Youngsters buying group and all 20 Toyzone stores in the UK. April 2008 - Koobric-30,000 sq ft-O2 Greenwich (also runs Fabric). April 2008 - Radley & Co-Birmingham Bullring, Glasgow Exchange, London South Molton St, Floral Street, Manchester Cathedral St, Westfield London, Liverpool One, Cabot Sq Bristol, Cardiff St David's 2. December 2007-Exponent Private Equity bought a majority stake from Phoenix Equity Partners. April 2008 - Puma-Westfield London, Belfast Victoria Sq, Liverpool One, Bristol Cabot Circus, Manchester Winter Garden Arndale SC. April 2008 - The Works-close to being sold from Administration to Private Equity investor Endless for £15m (was £50m in 2005 when sold to Hermes Private Equity). 210 stores. April 2008 - Sports Direct bought package stores from JJB Sports-Wolverhampton, London Wood Green. April 2008 - JJB-420 stores-reviewing about 70. April 2008 - Blacks Leisure seeking independent outdoor chains. April 2008 - Hush Puppies have UK store opening programme in pipeline. April 2008 - Ossian Retail Group-owns Internacionale & Au Naturale-150 stores-seeking monthly rental payments. Ossian Retail on the brink of Administration-Internacionale & Au Naturale. 120 Stores. Agilo its new investor has started the process. Agilo has sold about 30 stores to B&M. April 2008 - Fenwick bought Williams & Griffin Colchester. Fenwick has 10 stores-includes 2 Bentalls.Williams & Griffin 152 High St Colchester Essex CO1 1PN. April 2008 - Original Factory Shop-expanding in NI. Has 3 in NI-Bangor, Dungannon, Omagh. Wants sites of 8,000-15,000 sq ft. Plans 15-20 stores pa over next 3 years. Has 85 stores in UK. April 2008 - April 2008 - Polarn O Pyret-Swedish childrenswear brand-will expand through master franchisee, Odin Retail-3 stores in 2008. Stephen Kane instructed-units 1,500 sq ft. April 2008 - Jysk-first two UK stores in Lincoln & Mansfield. Plans for 500 stores. 2 more to open in York & Blackburn. Aiming for 25 pa. Initially within 20 miles of M62. Typically 10,000-15,000 sq ft. The retailer will open a further two stores, in York and Blackburn, in June and once it has bedded these down, will open about 25 a year. Initially, it will target locations within 20 miles of the M62. Danish retailer was founded in 1979 by entrepreneur Lars Larsen, who is known in his home country as the Duvet King. It will compete with UK operators such as Ikea, Dreams, Bensons for Beds, Dunelm and Rosebys. Jysk shops are typically between 10,000 and 15,000 sq ft. Jysk has about 1,350 stores in 31 countries and sales of 1.9 billion (£1.5 billion). April 2008 - 2 new stores-10700 sq ft in Lincoln, Mansfield. UK HQ in Manchester. April 2008 - FreshXpress- CTN- came out of Kwik Save- now in admin. Began trading in July 2007 from 56 former KS, only 9 stores now. April 2008 - Co-op acquiring 10 CTNs, under Bells & Jacksons fascias. April 2008 - Sweaty Betty-slowing down store openings. April 2008 - Just for Pets-11 stores (owned by Wynnstay Group). Bought Wilson's Pet Centres-10 branches. Seeking to expand by 20-30 stores. Wilson's are about 6,000 sq ft (555 sq m). Seeking 3,500-8,000 sq ft (325-745 sq m), within 90 min drive of Bromsgrove, located next to food retailers and parking. Salway Bradbury instructed. April 2008 - Ego-5 restaurants in NW.Raised £9.1m to roll-out 36. Mediterranean style-req Nottingham, Leeds and North and Midlands. April 2008 - Primark has taken the second anchor spot at Willow Place in Corby town centre. The value fashion retailer has signed for a 48,000 sq ft (4,460 sq m) store in the £35 million scheme, which is owned by Land Securities. The 175,000 sq ft (16,255 sq m) centre is already occupied by retailers including TK Maxx, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Evans, River Island and Jane Norman, with another three key signings imminent, according to Land Securities. Land Securities also has plans for a second phase of development in the town, called Evolution Corby. Land Securities was represented by letting agents Chase & Partners and King Sturge. April 2008 - LUMINAR-may take back leases from businesses that have gone bust-Candu Entertainment-a former subsidary. Also Summit. Candu had 26 leases Summit 5. April 2008 - USA Pro-in admin-bought by existing management under name UP Brands. Mike Ashley may secure rights. April 2008 - QS-rebranding as Store 21. CEO David Pidgeon left after 12 months. New shops at Pitsea 8000 sq ft. Great Yarmouth 4,000 sq ft, Solihull 2,000 sqft. April 2008 - Select-Indipentents buying 20 Select stores from administrators-UHY Hacker Young. Cafer Mahiroglu bought 125 stores for £2.5m. April 2008 - Pockets-to open 6th store. Newcastle -under-Lyme 3,000 sqft- (was Review Fine) owner Paul Platt. Other stores-Worcester, Hanley, Nantwich, Shrewsbury 2. April 2008 - Start-Rivington St, Shoreditch 1500 sq ft owner Philip Start. May do shop in shops. April 2008 - Land of Leather-71 concessions were let to Sleep Depot (in admin)-may re-occupy some themselves. Sleep Depopt also had 31 concessions in Paul Simon. Sleep Depot, which operates through more than 100 stores and concessions nationwide, has gone into administration. Rent from Sleep Depot amounted to £4.8 million. The loss of this concession rental income will be £1.6 million in the remainder of the financial year to August 3, but will be mitigated to some extent by Land of Leather trading from the vacated space. Land of Leather announced a slump in like-for-like sales and the retirement of chief executive Paul Briant. Steve Jenkins will join the retailer as chief executive from August 4. Land of Leather like-for-likes fell 16 per cent in the 26 weeks to January 27 and total sales order intake was down 4 per cent. Revenue was up 15 per cent to £133.3 million. April 2008 - Sweaty Betty is to slow down its store expansion programme and increased its multichannel offer. Sweaty Betty chief executive Simon Hill-Norton to focus on stores that push its brand harder and, as a result, the retailer will be "thinking much harder about location and size". April 2008 - Laurel Pub Co - Robert Tchenguiz is splitting it after buying back nearly 300 outlets from administration, to be replaced by Bay Restaurants (132-Slug & Lettuce, Ha Ha bar & grill, La Tasca) & Town & City Pubs (161-Yates). April 2008 - Moss Bros - Full year results-poor. April 2008 - Mothercare-ELC expanding overseas. 23 opened. April 2008 - Laura Ashley- continuing aggressive store expansion plans. Also has stake in Moss Bros April 2008 - Somerfield-sold 7 stores to Tesco fo approx £100m. April 2008 - Bravissimo to open to 7 stores in 2008 (17 to 21). April 2008 - Footasylum-10 stores-Wilmslow, Wood Green, Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Manchester, Arndale Centre Preston, Stoke-on-Trent, Solihull, Nottingham, Romford-Potential for 20 shops (another 10). Long term potential for 50. April 2008 - JJB Sports -plan to close 72 stores out of 410.JJB plans to open more of its higher margin combined gyms and shops, has 49. April 2008 - Greetings card retailer Celebrations Group to roll out an aggressive expansion programme for Card Warehouse brand, with 40 openings planned over the next 12 months. Celebrations Group,owns Card Warehouse and Cardfair, King Sturge acting. It has about 280 stores across both retail brands. about 1,200 sq ft - in a mixture of high street, shopping centre and retail park locations. Greeting Card Group, owned both brands, went into administration in January 2007. Year ending June 2006, Greeting Card Group had turnover of £70 million - 470 stores Card Warehouse and Cardfair. Celebrations Group closed 180 Card Warehouse stores. April 2008 - Asda Living-double in size to 26 by end of 2008. Ultimate target 200 stores. April 2008 - Somerfield-planning 50 new stores in 2008, even though they are up for sale. April 2008 - Evans Cycles-Active Private Equity has taken majority stake. The company's turnover has doubled over the last three years to £45m. 31 stores, price of about £35m. Plans to triple number of stores. April 2008 - MK One-Owner Baugur,has put MK One, up for sale. may be in some financial difficulty-£17.4 million into the red last year. Appointed Deloitte, to dispose of the business. Bought for £55 million in November 2004. Sales at the fashion retailer fell in the year to January 27, 2007 from £131m to £118m. MK One may no longer fits with the group's retail investment strategy. They say that Baugur plans to focus mainly on big name brands with the potential for international expansion. Baugur's other retail investments include Mosaic Fashions, which owns Karen Millen, Warehouse, Oasis, Principles, Shoe Studio and Coast. Also has interests in the department store chain House of Fraser, Whistles, Jane Norman, and All Saints. April 2008 - Carphone Warehouse doubling pace of converting stores to wireless store format. April 2008 - H&M-launching new brand-"Dividend"-Camden. Already added Cos last year. 213-219 Camden High St, London. 8,223 sq ft over 2 floors. April 2008 - Westfield London-Desa (Turkish). 1,600 sq ft 5 year lease. 30 October 2008 scheme opening date. April 2008 - O'Neill set to close shops. O'Neill closing Carnaby St & Neal St. O'Neill has 15 stores. April 2008 - Bang & Olufsen has 120 stores. Up to 10 may close. Will close Blackheath & Worcester. April 2008 - Coop-hoping to buy Somerfield (900 stores). May keep all stores. April 2008 - WH Smith-has expanded its travel unit, including shops at motorway service stations, airports and railway stations. Now agreed with Alpha Retail to acquire 23 units in 11 airports (includes 5 in Copenhagen airport). April 2008 - Ben Sherman-increasing international retail expansion. Has 25 stores internationally. Wants 55 by end of 2008.; 220 by end of 2012. April 2008 - Bingo-600 clubs in UK. 100 may close in 2008. 40 closed in 2007. .maybe another 100 may close.Riva Gaming-13 -Riva, Beacon, Heaton, HippodromeTop Ten-40. Mecca-103-11 closed in 2007. April 2008 - Ikea-17 UK stores-"could have another 10 in UK". April 2008 - Natuzzi (furniture)-seeking to increase stores through franchisees. Wants 25-30 outside London, plus 10 company stores in London by 2010. Opened in Cardiff, Trafford Centre.6,000-8,000 sq ft. April 2008 - Go Outdoors-plans a big store expansion. 9 stores. MD-John Graham.Sheffield, Wakefield, Coventry, Oxford, Stockport, Loughborough, Wigan, Coatbridge, Hathersage in Derbyshire. April 2008 - Duck and Cover-Planning retail. Franchise in Liverpool One SC. Only wants major destinations. April 2008 - Sir Philip Green-plans to close up to 12% of his stores. April 2008 - Paul-for sale-£20m + 20 UK stores. April 2008 - Pavers-joint venture with Reliance Footprint in India.70 shops in UK. April 2008 - JD Group is in talks with Red or Dead about a clothing license for its Bank chain. April 2008 - Animal-new flagship in Newquay-3,400 sq ft-run by franchise Ann's Cottage (has 3 multi branded stores + Animal in Padstow).Animal-50 shops (1/3rd company owned). April 2008 - Punch bought Spirit's 1,832 pubs in 2006. Now has 836 pubs after transferring some of the managed properties to tenancies & leaseholds. April 2008 - Tile Giant-owned by Travis Perkins-plans to expand to 300 in next 5 to 8 years creating 1m sq ft of trade counter space. MD-Mo Iqbal. Bought April 2008 Tile it All-16 units.In March 2008 bought Tile Magic-17 units. Travis Perkins bought Tile Giant (flagship brand) -29 stores in November 2007 for £12m. Since added 3 stores. So Tile Giant 67 stores. Martin Meech-PD at Travis Perkins. April 2008 - Planet Organic-3 stores-Fulham, Torrington Place, Westbourne Grove. 2 planned for 2008. Plans for 13 over following years. April 2008 - FreshXpress-was 24 stores, now 9.In administration-Menzies Corporate Restructuring. Sold in March to Ivybrim, still backed by Murtagh family. Ivybrim now called FX Holdings.3 in Liverpool, 2 Birmingham, Nottingham, Hull, Newport, Oswestry. April 2008 - Jamie's Italian-5th site-Kingston-upon-Thames. Oxford, Bath, Cambridge (2009), Brighton (2009) April 2008 - Village Hotels (De Vere Group)-to double to 50 within 5 years. Plans new hotels in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Rochdale, Portsmouth. Has 18 at present. Working on Ashton Moss Lancashire, south Leeds, Elstree. OpenIng Solihull, Bristol, Farnborough in 2009. April 2008 - Robert de Keyser-to open full price Rock Couture -Birmingham Mailbox-3,750 sq ft. April 2008 - Farmers' City Market-1-Hampton Hill.-in Admin. Now bought by ShoppingRedefined. 12,000 sq ft.Farmers' City Market-plans 3 branches 2008. London Hampton Hill. Stephen Wilkinson. Looking in M25. April 2008 - Clockwork Orange-Sam Morrison MD-SVM Textiles Group. 19 stores. Clockwork Orange 9; Replay 3-Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow, plus Outlet Banbridge; Tommy Hilfiger Belfast; Hilfiger Denim Belfast; Sam's Yard 2 Ballymena; Hire Class Ballymena; Sixty Belfast.Unlikely to open in England. April 2008 - Hawes & Curtis-to open concessions in H of F. 22 stores in UK. April 2008 - Multiyork-to open Lakeside. Trying a new lifestyle format. 61 stores. Wants 15 stores in next 3 years. April 2008 - Aquascutum-new store format-seeking store on Regent St. Looking overseas. 30 in UK. April 2008 - Tesco-to open more Express store format. Has 810 Tesco Express. Plans to open 150. April 2008 - Sainsbury's plans 100 ctns in next 3 years. April 2008 - Lovejuice-acquiring Barefruit Juice with 5 branches-creating group of 15. April 2008 - April 2008 - Restaurant Group-Garfunkel's, Frankie & Benny's, Chiquito.-opened 36 in 2007. Plans 30-35 in 2008. April 2008 - Martin McColl-not yet sold 18 of 54 of its 1,320 portfolio it put up for sale in 2007. April 2008 - United News Shops bought by WHSmith for £19m. UNS runs 72 c-stores and 8 Cafe Nuovo coffee shops in hospitals. April 2008 - Channel Islands Newsagents' 13 stores up for sale. April 2008 - Krispy Kreme-wants 11 sites in 2008. Has 36 sites. 3,500 sq ft; coffee bars 1,300 sq ft; 250 sq ft kiosks. Morgan Williams acting. April 2008 - Bourgeois Boheme-Etailer-opening 1st store Richmond-upon-Thames. April 2008 - Bally-acquired by Labelux Group. Sold by TPG Capital. April 2008 - Mulberry-to open in Leeds County Arcade in Victoria Quarter. (12th store). April 2008 - Oakley-plans 6 stores in UK. Bought in 2006 by Italian brand Luxottica. 2,000 sq ft. 2 shops a year. MD-Gary Lee. Existing in Bluewater, Covent Garden. April 2008 - Microzine-owner Chris Lee-closed Kingly Court Carnaby St store. Has store in Bold St Liverpool. April 2008 - Freddy-Italian sportswear brand-opening in Neal St Covent Garden (former Footlocker). Mike Thomas-Commercial Director. April 2008 - Gola-to open first Uk store-Carnaby St. (Owned by Jacobson Group). 1,608 sq ft. April 2008 - Lee-2 stores planned over next 2 years. Further 2 in 2009. Already has flagship on Carnaby St. 1,500-2,000 sq ft. Wants quirky sites off main high streets. Req-London, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff, Brighton, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Belfast, Dublin. April 2008 - MK One & Ethel Austin may be merged by Elaine Gray. Ethel Austin in admin 267 stores remain-closed 33 of 300. April 2008 - Wayne Price-furniture store-Home-Birkenhead-250,000 sq ft. Also Biggleswade & Glasgow. Potential for 20 stores. April 2008 - Ghost acquired by Arev/Kevin Stanford in December 2005. Plans 5 stores a year. Signed for Liverpool One, Highcross Leicester, Bristol Quakers Friars SC. Ghost-13 shops+2 outlets. April 2008 - Blossom Mother & Child-Marylebone High St, Westfield London. Plans to have 10 by 2010. April 2008 - Cilantro-Egyptian coffee shop coming to London-Piccadilly. Mrs Nadine Beshir. April 2008 - Gloria Jean's Coffees-10 units-Banbury, Derby, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham. Using franchising wants 30 by end of 2008. 900-1,200 sq ft. Mark Simms C&W acting. April 2008 - Nike to open company owned shops. Currently only Niketown Oxford Circus. Signed in Manchester. Victor Sye-Head of Property. 25 factory outlets including Outlet Banbridge, Galleria. April 2008 - Mimco-Australian accessories company-planning UK stores. Plans 6-10 stores-mainly London. CWM acting. 500-1,000 sq ft. 20 in Australia-part of Witchery Group, based in Melbourne. April 2008 - The Storage Pod-Weybridge Surrey-25,000 sq ft-Emma Dodi & Linda ConwayThe Storage Pod-seeking other sites across M25 area.