Yorkshire retail chain doubles in size following deal

A YORKSHIRE family clothing firm which began on a market stall has doubled in size to more than 90 stores following a deal to buy a Scottish retail chain.

Leeds-based Ellie Louise, a value fashion retailer, has expanded to more than 90 stores after the acquisition of family-owned Dunfermeline-based Happits.

The business was started by Michael Broughton on a market stall in Seacroft, Leeds, and is now run by his sons Kevin and Gary and has just under 50 stores across the Midlands and the North of England and an annual turnover of more than £20m.

Kevin Broughton, managing director of Ellie Louise, said: “We are delighted with the acquisition and we plan on further growth in the near future. We pride ourselves on giving exceptional value to our customers in fashion clothing.

“The Scottish people have welcomed the news and we have helped to save more than 250 employees’ jobs across Scotland.”

Prior to the acquisition of Happits, Ellie Louise had a 180-strong workforce.

The company’s professional advisers were Jonathan Grant of Grants Chartered Accountants in Leeds and Leeds-based lawyer Billy Hughes of Billy Hughes & Co Solicitors who worked in conjunction with Jane Steel of Bell & Scott Solicitors in Edinburgh.

Family-owned Happits was founded more than 40 years ago and has stores across Scotland and in the Midlands and South East England.

Happit is derived from the old Scottish word ‘hap’, meaning to be well wrapped up.