The Hut presses local authority for growth support

FAST growing e-retailer The Hut Group says it is committed to the North West, despite drawing up plans in a strategic review to quit its Cheshire base.

The group last night met Chester West and Chester Council leader Cllr Mike Jones and regeneration officials, to ask what the local authority can do to help support its projected growth.

The company, which operates a number of lifestyle brands such as Lookfantastic, Myprotein and mylabel, expects its workforce to grow by 500 in the next two years.

It is currently based on Gadbrook Park in near Northwich, but access and parking at the current site is becoming an increasing challenge.

Group talent director Ashley Ramrachia told TheBusinessDesk.com: “We have an obligation to look at what our future needs will be. We had a forthright meeting with the council and we will be having another in the next few weeks as we would like this to be resolved by the end of the year.

“While our preference is to stay in Cheshire, and the founders Matt (Moulding) and John(Gallemore) are committed to their responsibilities to the local area, we have an obligation to look at the options and alternatives.

“We have to take a long term view of what we will need in terms of office and warehouse space and the impact of our business of staying here or moving.”

Among the alternative options are to move the group’s main head office function to Manchester or Birmingham, while a large number of “operational roles” could be outsourced overseas.

Mr Ramrachia said: “The issue of offshoring should not be over-stated, but we do have to look at the money we could save if we do this.”