Focus DIY stores disposal is test for out of town retail

Kingfisher has taken 31 stores while Focus' administrators still have 147 left.

Kingfisher has taken 31 stores while Focus' administrators still have 147 left. The talk is that they should have no trouble in offloading most of the rest, despite flat retail sales. However, this may be a test for out of town retail which is changing almost without comment. The days of traditional big ticket retail may be passing as traffic numbers fall. Out of town retail parks are not shopping centres, but they will have to work a lot harder to attract traffic; the landlords have had it too good for too long and they will now have to work with their tenants as they are required to do within shopping centres, to develop a more attractive mix of retail, entertainment and hospitality.

Published May 2011