B&M

---

title: "B&M" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1978-establishments-in-the-united-kingdom", "companies-based-in-liverpool", "discount-shops-of-the-united-kingdom", "privately-held-companies-of-the-united-kingdom", "retail-companies-established-in-1978", "retail-companies-of-the-united-kingdom", "variety-stores", "companies-listed-on-the-london-stock-exchange", "companies-in-the-ftse-250-index", "garden-centres"] description: "Variety retailers in the United Kingdom" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B&M" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Variety retailers in the United Kingdom ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

Field	Value
name	B & M Retail Limited
image	B^M Store - Kempshott - geograph.org.uk - 7141801.jpg
image_caption	A B&M store in Kempshott, Hampshire, England, UK
trading_name	B&M
logo	Official B&M Retail logo.jpg
logo_size	115
former_name	{{Ubl
Faelex Limited (March–December 1978)<ref name	"CompaniesHouse" /
B. & M. Bargains (W & R) Limited (1978–1997)<ref name	"CompaniesHouse" /
type	Public
traded_as
FTSE 250 component
founder	Malcolm Billington
Brian Mayman
area_served	United Kingdom
France
key_people	Peter Bamford (chairman)
Tjeerd Jegen (CEO)
industry	Retail
products	Grocery, variety
revenue	£5,571 million (2025)
operating_income	£567 million (2025)
net_income	£319 million (2025)
divisions	BMStores.co.uk
subsid	Heron Foods
owner	B&M European Value Retail S.A.
num_employees	40,641 (2025)
homepage	{{Ubl
foundation
location	Speke, Liverpool, England, UK
locations	787 in the UK and 137 in France: total 924 stores (2025)
::

| name = B & M Retail Limited | image = B^M Store - Kempshott - geograph.org.uk - 7141801.jpg | image_caption = A B&M store in Kempshott, Hampshire, England, UK | trading_name = B&M | logo = Official B&M Retail logo.jpg | logo_size = 115 | former_name = {{Ubl | Faelex Limited (March–December 1978) | B. & M. Bargains (W & R) Limited (1978–1997) | type = Public | traded_as = FTSE 250 component | founder = Malcolm Billington Brian Mayman | area_served = United Kingdom France | key_people = Peter Bamford (chairman) Tjeerd Jegen (CEO) | industry = Retail | products = Grocery, variety | revenue = £5,571 million (2025) | operating_income = £567 million (2025) | net_income = £319 million (2025) | divisions = BMStores.co.uk | subsid = Heron Foods | owner = B&M European Value Retail S.A. | num_employees = 40,641 (2025) | homepage = {{Ubl | | | foundation = | location = Speke, Liverpool, England, UK | locations = 787 in the UK and 137 in France: total 924 stores (2025)

B & M Retail Limited, trading as B&M, is a British multinational variety store and garden centre chain founded in 1978 and based in Liverpool, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. B&M is part of the Jersey-based B&M European Value Retail S.A., which owns Heron Foods and operates the B&M (formerly Babou) stores in France.

History

The business was founded by Malcolm Billington and Brian Mayman: the first store opened in Cleveleys, England, in 1978. It was originally named Billington & Mayman, based on the founders' names, but was soon shortened to "B&M". The company was the subject of a management buyout, financed by Phildrew Investments, in October 1996.

It was acquired by Simon and Bobby Arora from Phildrew Investments in December 2004.

In September 2006, the business saw significant growth, by acquiring the GlynWebb chain of Do It Yourself (DIY) stores and converting them into the B&M Home Store format. The company also acquired a number of former Kwik Save, Woolworths, and Au-Naturale stores.

The business moved into a new office and modern 620000 sqft distribution centre based in Speke, Liverpool in 2010. In May 2011, B&M also purchased a number of Focus DIY stores.

In December 2012, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, one of the world's leading private equity funds, acquired a significant stake in B&M, and Sir Terry Leahy and Vindi Banga joined the Board of Directors.

In March 2014, the business acquired a majority stake in German discount retailer Jawoll and then opened a new 500,000 sq ft distribution centre in Speke, Liverpool. However, upon detailed analysis by the Columbia Business School, it was found the IPO of B&M was overhyped due to an already saturated market in the UK.

In November 2014, the business opened its 400th store (in Stockport) and claimed to serve in excess of three million customers every week. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/B_&_M_in_Wood_Green_shopping_centre_where_Wilko_used_to_be.jpg" caption="A B&M store in Wood Green shopping centre which replaced a Wilko store"] ::

During July 2017, the company completed the acquisition of the smaller frozen food store chain Heron Foods for £152 million. In 2018 the company started a trial of converting Heron Food branches to B&M Express.

As of 31 January 2018, B&M European Value Retail S.A. had issued 1,000,561,222 ordinary shares at the opening price of 10 pence.

In October 2018, the company acquired French discount retailer Babou for €91.2 million, and by the end of 2021, the Babou brand was replaced by B&M.

In September 2020, the company announced that it planned to open about 45 stores, offering everything from tinned and frozen meals to wallpaper and bedding plants, which had become a lockdown phenomenon.

On 4 February 2022, the company opened its 700th store at Border Retail Park in Wrexham.

In September 2022, Simon Arora stepped down as chief executive after 17 years in the role and was replaced by Alex Russo.

In September 2023, it was announced B&M had acquired 51 former Wilko stores from the administrator for £13 million.

In 2024, B&M became one of the bidders for the struggling Homebase alongside CDS Superstores. They later acquired some of the stores after Homebase collapsed into administration in November and opened them under B&M Home Store format.

In May 2024, the company announced the appointment of Tjeerd Jegen as its new chief executive following the retirement of Alex Russo in February 2025. Jegen will start from June 2025.

In October 2025, the company announced its chief finance officer, Mike Schmidt, will leave the company after it has appointed his successor.

Controversy

Fire safety

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Iceland_and_B^M_Bargains,Burmantofts-geograph.org.uk-_5169826.jpg" caption="Iceland]] and B&M Store in [[Burmantofts]], England, United Kingdom"] ::

In 2012, B&M pleaded guilty at Mansfield Magistrates Court to six fire safety offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 following a visit from Fire Protection officers of the Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to their Mansfield store in October 2011. Officers had previously visited in June 2011 and found numerous breaches of the order, including blocked fire exits. However, the failings were found to have been repeated in the revisit and the firm was fined £32,984.17.

Underage sale of knives

In 2018, B&M was fined a record £480,000 by Barkingside Magistrates’ Court for selling knives to three children under the age of 18 in test purchases at stores in Redbridge and Barking. The fine was reduced from £720,000 as the business pleaded guilty. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Interior_view_of_toy_&_confectionary_aisle_at_B&M_discount_store,_134-142_High_Street,_Gillingham,_Kent,_England,_showing_promotional_displays,_board_games,_puzzles,_dolls_and_toy_vehicles_with_yellow_price_labels.jpg" caption="A typical layout of an aisle at a B&M store"] ::

COVID-19 rates relief controversy

In March 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, gave business rates relief and furlough payments to businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors. B&M was among several businesses classified as 'essential retailers' and as a result was allowed to remain open when other 'non-essential businesses had to close. In November 2020, B&M and other retailers were subject to a public outcry for having not handed back payments totalling £1.8 billion intended for propping up retailers prevented from trading due to restrictions, despite making record profits. The retailer declared £296 million in profit and as a result issued a £250 million special dividend despite having received £38 million in business rates relief and £3.7 million in furlough payments. Brothers Simon and Bobby Arora, the CEO and trading director respectively, received a combined total of £37 million of the special dividend due to their 15% shareholding which is said to be worth at least £750 million. The firm agreed to pay £80 million in business rate relief it had saved, a move mirrored by major supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons.

Electrical safety

In July 2022, B&M was fined £1 million by the Health and Safety Executive after it was found to have failed in the appointment of a "suitably competent person" to plan and execute work connecting temporary generators at its warehouse in Liverpool. The failing resulted in an electrical explosion causing electrocution and bodily burns of an electrician working on the project.

Operations

As of October 2025, B&M operates 764 stores in the UK and 129 stores in France. It also operates 338 Heron Foods stores in the UK.

Since September 2012, some stores have also been selling National Lottery goods.

Financial performance

The financial performance has been as follows: ::data[format=table] | Year ending | Revenue (£ million) | Profit | Operating (£ million) | Pre-tax (£ million) | Retained (£ million) | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 29 March 2025 | 5,571.0 | 566.0 | 431.0 | 319.0 | | | 30 March 2024 | 5,484.0 | 608.0 | 498.0 | 367.0 | | | 25 March 2023 | 4,983.0 | 536.0 | 436.0 | 348.0 | | | 26 March 2022 | 4,673.0 | 610.0 | 525.0 | 422.0 | | | 27 March 2021 | 4,801.4 | 613.4 | 525.4 | 428.1 | | | 31 March 2020 | 3,813.4 | 332.8 | 252.0 | 80.9 | | | 31 March 2019 | 3,486.3 | 264.4 | 249.4 | 202.7 | | | 31 March 2018 | 3,029.8 | 239.8 | 229.3 | 185.8 | | | 25 March 2017 | 2,430.7 | 204.5 | 182.9 | 144.0 | | | 26 March 2016 | 2,035.3 | 174.5 | 154.5 | 125.8 | | | url=http://www.bandmretail.com//media/Files/B/BM-Stores/agm/ar-15.pdf|title=Annual Report 2015|publisher=B&M|access-date=16 April 2017}} | 1,646.8 | 132.9 | 61.7 | 39.9 | | | url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01357507/filing-history |title=B&M Retail – Companies House |publisher=Companies House |date=26 March 2016 |access-date=12 January 2017}} | 1,509.1 | 123.5 | 123.4 | 115.9 | | | last1=Sengun|first1=Tunc|title=B&M's Financial performance 31/12/2012|url=http://www.bandmretail.com//media/Files/B/BM-Stores/reports-and-presentations/financial-reports/bm-retail-2012-signed-accs.pdf|website=bandmretail.com|access-date=23 June 2014}} | 935.2 | 88.1 | 88.3 | 66.3 | | | 31 December 2011 | 712.6 | 52.0 | 51.7 | 38.0 | | | author= writer|url=http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=independentarticle&ID=209801 |title=B&M Confirms Meteoric Rise as Pre-Tax Profits Hit All-Time High |work=The Grocer |date=29 May 2010 |access-date=29 December 2010|author-link = Staff writer}} | 538.3 | 35.4 | 35.2 | 25.3 | | | 31 December 2009 | 426.6 | 34.0 | 33.8 | 24.5 | | ::

References

References

1. "Annual Report 2025". B&M.
2. "Arora brothers clean up thanks to B&M float". [[The Times]].
3. "At a glance". B&M.
4. (1978-03-14). "B & M Retail Limited overview - Find and update company information - Gov.uk".
5. "B&M European Value Retail SA, BME:LSE profile - FT.com".
6. Wright, Georgia. (2025-06-23). "B&M abandons Luxembourg tax haven amid profit pressures - Retail Gazette".
7. "B&M Bargains – Started in Cleveleys!". Visit Cleveleys.
8. Lockwood, Rebecca. (13 May 2022). "The history of B&M from Blackpool store to bargain goods giant".
9. (18 October 1996). "Phildrew takes on B&M Bargains for £13m". E. G. Radius.
10. (22 April 2016). "Sunday Times Rich List 2016: Sale bargain brother billionaires rank fourth in North West". Messenger.
11. Barry, Chris. (5 September 2006). "GlynWebb Changes Hands Again". [[Manchester Evening News]].
12. (15 October 2007). "B&M acquires Kwik-save stores".
13. . (15 October 2007). ["B&M Bargains Buys Ex-Kwik Save Stores"](http://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/7004-b-m-bargains-buys-ex-kwik-save-stores.html). *Talking Retail*.
14. "B&M acquires Woolworth stores".
15. "B&M Acquires Au Naturale stores".
16. (10 October 2012). "Liverpool discount retailer B&M Bargains to create 200 jobs with new 500,000sq ft warehouse in Speke". Liverpool Echo.
17. "B&M acquires Focus stores".
18. "Clayton Dubilier & Rice To Acquire Significant Stake in Leading UK Variety Retailer, B&M Retail".
19. (12 June 2014). "B&M Bargains boosts London's listing market". The Telegraph.
20. (10 October 2014). "Graham and Doddsville". Columbia Business School (GSB).
21. (18 November 2014). "Why B&M could be the next big thing in British retailing". The Telegraph.
22. "About B&M Stores". B&M Stores.
23. Armstrong, Ashley. (2 August 2017). "B&M Bargains moves into convenience retailing with £152m swoop on Heron Foods". The Telegraph.
24. (2 August 2017). "Family-run Heron Foods taken over by B&M in £152m deal". BBC.
25. (3 September 2018). "B&M converts Heron Foods branches to 'B&M Express'". The Grocer.
26. (31 January 2018). "Total Voting Rights". Announcement for Release.
27. (23 October 2018). "B&M enters France with Babou acquisition".
28. (19 December 2021). "Discount : petits prix, offre élargie... B&M à la conquête du marché après le rachat des Babou".
29. (29 September 2020). "B&M steps up expansion after lockdown sales boom".
30. (3 February 2022). "Take a SNEAK PEEK inside Wrexham's new B&M store before it opens tomorrow".
31. Martin, Ben. (2022-04-22). "B&M boss Simon Arora to step down".
32. "Our Board".
33. (5 September 2023). "B&M acquires 51 stores from collapsed Wilko".
34. (28 February 2024). "Homebase plunges into the red after 'challenging year'".
35. "B&M Opens New Stores In Former Homebase Units".
36. Fish, Isabella. (2025-05-15). "Ex-Tesco executive Tjeerd Jegen to head B&M European Value Retail".
37. (2025-10-20). "B&M finance chief Mike Schmidt steps down after accounting error".
38. (31 May 2012). "Notts fire safety prosecution serves as warning to...". Fire Knowledge.
39. (26 September 2018). "B&M Bargains fined £480,000 for repeatedly selling knives to east London children".
40. (21 September 2018). "B&M fined for illegal knife sales to east London teens". [[British Broadcasting Corporation]].
41. (24 March 2020). "What support is the government offering to get through the coronavirus pandemic?".
42. (18 March 2020). "Chancellor extends one-year business rates holiday for all retailers".
43. (7 January 2021). "B&M Bargains boss pays himself £30m after bumper sales during lockdown".
44. (3 December 2020). "£1.8bn-plus in Covid rates relief to be handed back as B&M joins list".
45. (12 November 2020). "Treasury messed up over B&M's Covid rates freebie".
46. (12 November 2020). "Lockdown sales boost at B&M prompts £250m special dividend".
47. (26 July 2022). "Budget retailer B&M hit with £1m fine over electrocution". Redactive Media Group.
48. (2025-10-07). "B&M's new boss plans 'decisive' steps to put retailer back in profit".
49. "B&M sells National Lottery goods".
50. "Annual Report 2024". B&M.
51. "Annual Report 2023". B&M.
52. "Annual Results 2022". B&M.
53. "Annual Results 2021". B&M.
54. "Annual Report 2020". B&M.
55. "Annual Report 2019". B&M.
56. "Annual Report 2018". B&M.
57. "B&M European Value Retail S.A. – Annual Report and Accounts 2017".
58. "Preliminary Results 2016". B&M.
59. "Annual Report 2015". B&M.
60. (26 March 2016). "B&M Retail – Companies House". Companies House.
61. writer. (29 May 2010). ["B&M Confirms Meteoric Rise as Pre-Tax Profits Hit All-Time High"](http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=independentarticle&ID=209801). *[[The Grocer]]*.
62. Bennett, Julia. (21 May 2010). "B&M Staff Anger over 'Obscene' Profit". [[Blackpool Gazette]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::