Housewares stockist JTF Mega Discount Warehouses says it will help to revive UK high streets with plans to open a new store concept, JTF Central in 50 locations. The stores will take a “creative and innovative new approach to retail,” while “championing the best affordable deals for homeware,” according to Jeremy Coombes, director at JFT Mega Discount Warehouses.
Established as an out-of-town discount retailer, JTF Mega Discount Warehouses has twelve warehouses across the Midlands and the North, with large stores in Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, as well as its ecommerce site. The retailer stocks branded kitchenware, small electricals, home storage and utility as part of its extensive product portfolio across home, garden, petcare and accessories.
Taking up vacant spaces in town and city centre locations, the new JTF Central stores will ‘put entertainment at the heart of the shopping experience’, tempting customers into stores with a fusion of retail and leisure. It plans to have ‘entertainment in every area’ of the new stores, as well as ‘fun themed food outlets’ and a sustainable eco concept area.
A new management team acquired JTF pre-pandemic in January 2020, and Jeremy reports: “Whilst working hard to navigate challenges, our new management team has had the chance to plan for the future, evolve the business to meet new customer expectations post-pandemic and develop new exciting retail concepts.”
JFT is working with property consultants to find suitable sites and is due to launch the JFT Central concept in July, creating a “fun place” for families to shop, notes Jeremy.
