29 March 2024, 06:20
By Furniture News Sept 21, 2015

Steinhoff UK to replace Cargo with Bensons on the high street

Steinhoff UK's retail division has announced that it plans to withdraw its Cargo brand from the high street during the first quarter of 2016 in order to accelerate the roll-out of Bensons for Beds stores in the South East.

“Over the last few years Bensons for Beds has delivered consistent growth, making it now the UK’s leading specialist bed retailer," comments the MD of Steinhoff UK’s retail operation, Alan Williams.

"The company has decided to accelerate this growth by utilising some of the group’s retail premises in the South East. As such, a number of Cargo stores will be rebranded to the Bensons fascia in order to give it additional presence in the South East and optimise the business’ return from its store portfolio.

"A consequence of this decision is that the Cargo brand will be withdrawn from the high street during Q1 2016, and thereafter trade online.”

The first Cargo store was opened by James Waller Carpenter in London in 1876, under the trading name of JW Carpenter. The shop sold a range of cookware, cast iron utensils, cleaning materials and other household products.

In May 2004 JW Carpenter was bought by Steinhoff UK, also owner of Harveys, Bensons for Beds and Sleepmasters.

The retailer opened 17 new Bensons stores and refitted a further 36 last year alone – more store openings are due before Christmas. Read a full interview with Alan Williams in the October issue of Furniture News magazine.

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