Kent HMV stores spared closure and job losses
The HMV store in St
Margarets Street, Canterbury
by business editor Trevor Sturgess
As many as 66 HMV stores are to close with the loss of 930
jobs - but none of them are in Kent.
Some 930 jobs are likely to go at the high street CD and DVD
retailer,
which collapsed into administration last month amid fierce
competition from online and supermarkets.
None of the stores earmarked for closure are in Kent, although
the shops in Bexleyheath (Bexley) and Orpington (Bromley) are on
the list.
No fixed date is set for the closure of these stores, which will
continue to trade in the meantime.
However, it is expected that closures will take place over the
next one to two months.
HMV currently operates from 220 stores in the UK, including
Bluewater, Maidstone, Ashford, Folkestone, Canterbury, Thanet,
Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
A pop-up store in Chatham's Pentagon Shopping Centre shut last
month.
Nick Edwards, joint administrator with Deloitte, said: "As
part of our ongoing review of HMV's financial position, we have now
completed a review of the store portfolio and have identified 66
loss making stores for closure.
"This step has been taken in order to enhance the prospects of
securing the business' future as a going concern."
He added an optimistic note: "We continue to receive strong
support from staff and are extremely grateful to them for their
commitment during an understandably difficult period.
"All other key stakeholders remain very supportive and I
continue to be hopeful of securing a future for the restructured
business."
07/02/13
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