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B&M puts loss-making German unit under review

B&M European Value Retail wrote down the value of its German unit Jawoll and put it under review.

The latest move by the company came as the unit turned into a loss-maker earlier this week.


Jawoll, which was acquired by the B&M in 2014, recorded a 3.2 per cent rise in sales but fell to a loss of £12.2 million, in the first half of its financial year.

Shares in B&M were moved down earlier week over seven per cent, paring gains for 2019 to 24.3 per cent.

The performance in Germany overshadowed a firm first half from its main British business.

The Indian-origin Simon Arora-led company has 98 stores in Germany, primarily operating under the Jawoll brand.

B&M trades from 645 stores in the UK operating under the B&M brand and 290 stores under the Heron Foods and B&M Express brands.

B&M’s overall pretax profit moved down by 70.5 per cent to £32.2m, which included an impairment charge of £59.5m relating to its German unit, the company said in its financial report for its first half ended in September.

Arora, B&M’s chief executive, blamed the company’s German team, which had ordered higher stock while trading at the Jawoll chain remained weak.

About 50 per cent of Jawoll’s £12m losses were due to an increase in warehouse and transport costs.

The group’s latest setback is a rare negative development for the Liverpool-based B&M.

Arora, 49, started his business in 1995 supplying low price products from Asia to retailers before acquiring B&M in 2004, which is valued at £3.5 billion.

B&M makes 86 per cent of its sales from its British stores, where sales rose by 13.8 per cent.

The Asian-origin top executive of the business said that he was moving ahead with plans to raise the number of stores from 645 to 950.

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A traditional pub hotel group has outperformed luxury international chains in the UK's largest guest satisfaction survey, while one major operator continues its decade-long streak at the bottom of the rankings.
The Coaching Inn Group, comprising 36 relaxed inn-style hotels in historic buildings across beauty spots and market towns, achieved the highest customer score of 81per cent among large chains in Which?'s annual hotel survey. The group earned five stars for customer service and accuracy of descriptions, with guests praising its "lovely locations and excellent food and service.
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"Among boutique chains, Hotel Indigo scored 79 per cent with its neighbourhood-inspired design, while InterContinental achieved 80per cent despite charging over £300 per night, and the chain missed WRP status for this reason.

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