B&M Retail opens new Liverpool HQ

DISCOUNT retailer B&M Retail is to open its new national HQ and distribution centre in south Liverpool today, saying that there are still more than 200 which need to be filled at the depot.
The company, which is owned by brothers Simon and Bobby Arora, has relocated from its existing base at Squires Gate in Blackpool to the new purpose-built headquarters known as The Vault at Estuary Business Park in Speke, which will contain more than 15,000 sq ft of offices and 603,000 sq ft of warehouse space. It also has 56 loading bays offering easy access to the warehouse.
The company received up to £1.75m in grant funding from the city but has said that up to 200 office jobs and 400 warehouse, packing and distribution jobs will move into the area – many of which remain unfilled.
Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of Liverpool City Council said: “B&M Retail is a fast-growing, ambitious business in a growing market.  We believe the company will be a significant asset to the City Region and we warmly welcome this major investment.
“Already significant numbers of people have benefited from the new job opportunities created and there are still many more jobs available.
“I have been pleased that B&M has been working closely with the Liverpool JET service to ensure that as many jobs as possible are taken up by local residents and I hope many more job seekers will investigate the opportunities created by B&M’s relocation.”
B&M Retail began trading 30 years ago. By 2004, when it was bought by brothers, Bobby and Simon Arora, the company had 21 stores and an annual turnover of £65m. Since then the company said that its annual turnover has grown to more than £500m through a network of 200 stores.
Joint Managing Director, Simon Arora, said: “The company has come a long way in a short time and we are convinced that our relocation to Liverpool will mean even further growth.
“We looked at a large number of potential sites and decided that Liverpool was the outstanding option.
“So far we have been delighted by the warmth of the welcome we have received in the city and especially with the quality of people we have recruited and feel certain our association with Liverpool will be long and mutually beneficial.”