WH Smith buys hospital shop chain

THE UK's leading hospital shop operator has been bought by retailer WH Smith in a £19m deal.

Leeds-based United News Shops employs 600 people and operates in 62 hospitals up and down the UK. Annual sales are around £35m.

The move will boost the retailers presence in hospitals and adds 72 stores and eight coffee bars to WH Smith's own portfolio of eight hospital outlets.

A spokeswoman for WH Smith said no decision had yet been made on whether to rebrand the acquired shops under its own name, but said all UNS staff would be retained.

UNS managing director Roger Swift said the head office and administration centre will remain in Leeds.

WH Smith chief executive Kate Swann said the deal would create further growth opportunities in the hospital retail sector, which she added was “under-developed”.

In a separate move, the retailer also announced it was opening travel units in all 29 RoadChef motorway service areas.

It follows a successful trial at the RoadChef service stations on the M1 at Watford Gap.

WH Smith also operates 547 high street stores and more than 300 other travel shops at airports, train and service stations.