Liverpool retailer B&M agrees lease on a 674,265 sq ft facility where it will create its new ‘import centre’ to support its high street expansion. Tony McDonough reports

Link 674 has now been let to retailer B&M on a 10-year lease

Liverpool value retail giant B&M has agreed a 10-year lease on a 674,265 sq ft logistics hub in Ellesmere Port that will support its high street expansion.

Last week LBN reported how the company was planning to increase its UK store network to 1,200 outlets over the next few years. B&M currently operates 764 B&M stores in the UK as well as more than 330 Heron frozen food stores in the UK.

As part of this expansion plan the business announced it was investing £20m in a new import centre. to manage inbound container flow and optimise the capacity of B&M’s five UK distribution centres. Its container volumes have grown by 40% in the past five years.

Now B&M has agreed a lease on a property called Link 674 at Link Logistics Park with asset manager Firethorn Trust which acted on behalf of the park owner Cain International.

This is one of the largest lease agreements for the UK logistics market this year. Link Logistics Park offers excellent access to major transportation networks, including the Manchester Ship Canal, the Port of Liverpool, and key motorways.

A spokesperson for B&M Retail, which has its headquarters in Speke, said: “Link 674 at Ellesmere Port provides us with increased capacity to support our continued store portfolio growth in the U.K.

“This new facility will operate as an imports centre which will manage in-bound container flow and optimise the capacity of B&M UK’s five existing distribution centres which are handling ever-growing volumes.”

Last week, Stock market listed B&M released its half year results for the 26 weeks to September 28. They show sales for the period of £2.64bn, up 3.9% on the same period last year. However, pre-tax profits were down by £53m to £169m.

Link forms part of a 3.25m sq ft industrial portfolio that Firethorn developed and sold to Cain International in 2022, with Firethorn retained as asset and leasing manager across all sites.

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James Sanders, associate director at Firethorn Trust, added: “We’re committed to creating long-term value for our clients and their occupiers. Link Logistics Park is one of the largest and most prominent industrial sites in the North West.

“Strong demand from top-tier tenants such as B&M Retail is a testament to both the quality of the spaces we’ve developed, and the strength of our robust management strategies.”

B8 Real Estate, CBRE and Moriarty & Co. acted for Cain and Firethorn Trust, with Simmons & Simmons providing legal advice. B&M were represented by Savills and advised by Gordons.