Peacocks e-tail manager makes bid for chain, but stays committed to stores

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Dec 4, 2020

A Peacocks manager has made a bid for the failed company in a move that could save its 4,900 jobs and 470 stores and concessions following its November administration filing.

EWM said a senior e-commerce manager at Peacocks is working with a private investor and wants to buy the entire operation.

While the buyout group has promised to “strengthen Peacocks' digital offering with a clear plan of investment into developing the e-commerce element of the business”, it also aims to “rejuvenate the in-store experience for Peacocks’ long-established, loyal customer base”.

If successful, it would be another step in the move that’s seeing Philip Day and Philip Green retreat from their once-dominant positions on the UK high street.

Peacocks filed for administration last month after owner Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group (EWM), which is controlled by Philip Day, couldn’t find a buyer for the business. 

Day’s other chains are also in administration and he’s not expected to bid for any of them. Philip Green isn’t expected to bid for any of Arcadia’s brands either. 

This means that a huge basket of brands should come under new ownership, including EWM’s Edinburgh Woollen Mill chain, Jaeger, Austin Reed, Jacques Vert, Peacocks and Bonmarché, plus Arcadia’s Topshop/Topman, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Outfit and Evans.