B&M to open in former B&Q unit in Derby

DISCOUNT retailer B&M has announced it will be opening a new store in Derby which will create 60 jobs.

The firm has said it will be turning the former B&Q site, in Megaloughton Lane, Spondon, into a home store and garden centre.

The business said that the building will now undergo a "comprehensive" internal and external refurbishment ahead of it opening for business on Saturday, February 13.

B&M said the store will sell a variety of branded and own label products including toys, food and drink, pet products, health and beauty and seasonal ranges.

It will also boast a DIY, decorating and furniture range, homeware collections, electricals and its own garden centre.

The taking over of the store is a welcome boost for the area, which was hit by the closure of the former B&Q building.

Last year, the DIY retailer announced it was closing a number of stores. The Spondon outlet shut on September 19 with the loss of 40 jobs.

B&M said it is looking to recruit local people.

A B&M spokeswoman said: "We're feeling really positive about the creation of new jobs for local people and we hope customers are going to be delighted with their new store.

"We are all really excited to get the doors open and welcome our new customers through the door next month."

It is the second former B&Q store in Derbyshire to be taken over by B&M.

In December, it opened in the former B&Q in Somercotes, creating 50 jobs in the process.

Speculation that B&M was eyeing the Megaloughton Lane premises surfaced in September, when the Derby Telegraph reported that the firm was advertising vacancies online for a proposed Spondon store.

B&M, which was founded in Blackpool, has flourished over the last few years by meeting the demands of price-conscious consumer.

Established in 1978, the firm, which is now based in Liverpool, has around 450 high-street and out-of-town stores across the UK.

The Spondon store will be B&M's fourth Derby store.

It opened its first Derby outlet, in Ascot Drive, in 2008 and the second followed at the Meteor Centre retail park, in Mansfield Road, in 2014.

The Meteor Centre is also home to rival discount store chain The Range.

In May, last year, the firm opened its third store in Stenson Road, in a building formerly occupied by the Co-op.

B&M is now recruiting for the new Spondon store and people should visit www.bmstores/careers to find out more.

Source : Derby Telegraph
www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/B-M-open-new-Derby-store-creating-60-jobs/story-28503328-detail/story.html