Echo Business
Morrisons purchases former Best Buy store in Hedge End for Kiddicare outlet
12:01pm Thursday 26th January 2012
SUPERMARKET giant Morrisons has bought a recently-closed Hampshire electrical superstore as part of a £15m deal.
The Hedge End branch of Best Buy shut earlier this month with the loss of around 100 jobs, after the company pulled the plug on its UK operations.
Morrisons has now snapped up 10 stores from the American firm, which it plans to use to expand its Kiddicare children's retailer brand.
The move is set to create 700 jobs nationally, although none of those are to be former Best Buy workers, who it is understood have been found other roles within Carphone Warehouse.
The new Kiddicare sites will offer advice and customer service such as car seat fitting and will drive sales through its website.
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