Homebase has gone into administration, putting 2000 jobs at risk, reports BBC News.
In September, Sainsbury's announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire 10 leasehold stores from HHGL, trading as Homebase, for conversion into Sainsbury's supermarkets, further signalling owner Hilco's intent to divest itself of the homewares brand. At the time, Sainsbury's said it would guarantee an interview for any Homebase employees at risk of redundancy as a result of the transaction (see related).
Hilco Capital, which bought the Homebase brand from Australian retail group Wesfarmers in 2018 for £1, did not manage to find an outright buyer in the meantime.
The Range's owner CDS Superstores has confirmed that it plans to buy up to 75 stores, brand name and IP, safeguarding some 1600 jobs, the BBC reports, "leaving 49 stores without a buyer, and thousands of jobs at risk in the stores and head office". It is not known if the stores purchased will remain Homebase-branded outlets.
The stores facing closure – which also remain unspecified as yet – will continue to trade while administrator Teneo continues to seek a buyer.
