E&Y sells 13 Focus stores to Wickes

Some 345 jobs have been saved after the administrators of Crewe-based DIY chain Focus agreed a deal to sell 13 of its stores to Wickes.

Joint administrator Simon Allport from the Manchester office of administrators Ernst & Young said that the remaining 178 Focus stores were continuing to trade and that it was “in detailed discussions with a number of interested parties” with a view to selling more of its outlets.

He said: “Since the date of the administrators’ appointment, stores have been trading at record levels as we have been able to offer very competitive prices across the full product range.

“We are grateful to all the group’s loyal customers, employees and suppliers for their continued support.”

Ernst Young was appointed as administrator to Focus Group on May 5. It traded from 175 stores and employed 3,920 people. In the year to February 21, 2010, it declared a loss of £21m on sales of nearly £490m.

Since its apointment, Ernst & Young has already sold 31 stores to B&Q owner Kingfisher for £23m.