Robert Dyas forges ahead with plans for expansion under new ownership

Robert Dyas aims to have opened eight new stores by Christmas and is planning to add around 20 more next year, chairman and chief executive Alan Smith told DIY Week.

The hardware and home-wares chain was acquired by the private investment firm, Change Capital for £61m in March (DIY Week, March 5).  When the takeover was announced Change Capital outlined its plans to double the number of Dyas stores within four years, taking the chain to 150 outlets.

“With a bit of luck by the end of next year we’ll be up to 100 stores. Our aim is to get to 150 stores within a four-year period,” Alan Smith told DIY Week.

The retailer is also looking at extending beyond its existing store ‘footprint’ in the south of England up to as far north as Warwickshire in the future.

Separately, a number of staff changes have also taken place since the acquisition. In addition to the departure of former chief executive Brent Wilkinson and former chairman Roger Pedder, finance director Malcolm Smart has been replaced by Mark Holloway, who was previously financial controller, in an internal promotion.

Graham Coles has been drafted in as development director and Leigh Martin is poised to join as commercial director from Homebase, once his notice period has been served.

Change Capital was set up by former Marks & Spencer chairman Luc Vandevelde and Robert Dyas was its first acquisition.