Relief as Barry's Peacocks store is saved

Staff at Peacocks in Barry have all kept their jobs, after the fashion chain was bought out of administration by Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

The Scottish company acquired the Peacocks brand, together with 388 retail outlets and its logistics functions in South Wales, for an undisclosed sum last Wednesday (February 22).

The purchase has saved 6,000 jobs across the UK, although 3,000 more have been lost and more than 200 stores closed.

However, all of the staff at the Holton Road store have been kept on.

Darren Wareham, store manager of Peacocks in Barry, said: "All of the staff are very relieved, and we have also had very positive feedback from our customers.

"We were always positive that we would be saved."

Philip Day, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, announced the purchase last week.

"With immediate effect, 338 stores, 57 concessions, three distribution centres and the head office operations belonging to the Peacocks group will come into the EWM group of companies," he said.

"We look forward to working with our new colleagues to rebuild the business in what is a very tough economic climate for high street retailers in the UK."

Three Cardiff stores were closed down last week with immediate effect, with the loss of 100 jobs.

But Mr Day added: "We do hope that there will be scope to save more jobs and stores from those being forced to close now due to performance issues and overhead pressures.

"There will be a considerable amount of work to undertake over the next few months to stabilise the situation, turn this business around, get the supply chain moving again and excite the customers with great products."

Peacocks went into administration in mid January, but the news that the large Barry store is staying open is a big boost for local businesses.

Barry's Bonmarche store also escaped closure recently, after the group was kept out of administration and bought by private equity firm Sun European Partners.