UK Edition
BHS lives on - but only overseas as new Qatari owners invest in expansion
The new owners of BHS have unveiled plans to expand the department store overseas, six months after its UK operations collapsed into administration.
Al Mana Group, a Qatari retail congolmerate which bought BHS’s online and international operations from administrators in June, is in the final stages of agreeing contracts with three new franchise partners in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
It is also looking to source partners in other countries as part of wider plans to increase the number of stores abroad.
All of its ranges will continue to be designed in London, but there will be a greater focus on offering products more tailored to each individual region.
David Anderson, managing director of BHS International, said that since the new international business was formed in June, BHS had secured a number of agreements with new partners in new territories and was “in discussions with many others”.
“In the countries we operate in outside of the UK, visiting shopping malls and stores is very much a leisure and family activity,” he said.
The BHS international business has been operating since 1985 under a franchise partnership model.
When Al Mana purchased the business in June 2016, there were 61 stores in 14 countries, including Malta, Bahrain, Russia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Abu Dhabi, under the control of 11 franchise partners.
Wissam al Mana, who is married to pop singer Janet Jackson and runs the retail conglomerate, is a brand licensing specialist, running franchise stores for Harvey Nichols, Zara and Mango across the United Arab Emirates.
BHS collapsed into administration in April after 88 years of trading and was wound up in August after administrators Duff & Phelps failed to find a buyer for the UK assets.
Mr Anderson said his international and online business is profitable and growing.