Carpetright: full list of former stores saved by Bensons for Beds - what is happening to former employees?

• Bensons for Beds has acquired 19 former Carpetright locations following Carpetright's collapse
• Bensons plans to create job opportunities for former Carpetright employees when the stores reopen
• Carpetright entered administration last month due to weak demand and a significant cyber attack in April
• The insolvency led to the closure of over 200 Carpetright stores and the redundancy of 1,018 workers
• Bensons aims to start trading from the acquired stores within the next few months

Bensons for Beds has acquired 19 Carpetright locations following the carpet retailer's collapse.

The bed specialist announced plans to create job opportunities for former Carpetright employees when the stores reopen under its brand.

Carpetright entered administration last month after facing weaker demand and a significant cyber attack in April. Before its insolvency, the company employed 1,852 people and operated 273 stores across the UK.

Carpetright’s brand, intellectual property, 54 stores and two warehouses were bought by rival Tapi weeks later. But the failure ultimately led to the closure of more than 200 other stores and immediate redundancy for 1,018 workers.

Bensons said it hopes to start trading from the first former Carpetright shop “within the next few months”.

(Photos: Getty Images/Geograph) | Getty Images/Geograph

The full list of former Carpetright store Bensons has acquired is as follows:

• Aberdeen
• Ashton
• Bath
• Belfast
• Canterbury
• Eastbourne
• Edmonton
• Exeter
• Gillingham
• Irvine
• Kettering
• Old Kent Road
• Oldbury
• Portsmouth
• Salisbury
• Slough
• Solihull
• Sutton
• Torquay

Nick Collard, chief executive, said: “Increasing the number of Bensons stores remains a key growth priority and we are excited about this opportunity to take on 19 store units.

“Today’s announcement supports our overall plan to expand our current 162-strong store estate to over 200 over the next few years.”

It comes despite bosses at Bensons highlighting “challenging” conditions for the sale of big ticket furniture items.

Collard added: “Since our return to profitability in 2023, we’ve continued to see significant market share gains across all our core categories, reflecting the hard work from all our colleagues across the organisation.

“This work, alongside the announcement today on the new stores, leaves us well placed when the wider market starts to recover, allowing us to realise the longer-term ambitions for Bensons and its colleagues.”

We'd love to hear your thoughts on Bensons for Beds' acquisition of Carpetright stores and their plans to create job opportunities. Share your opinions and insights in the comments section.