Roches Stores
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roches Stores was a national chain of department stores in the Republic of Ireland acquired by Debenhams in 2006.
Founded in Cork in 1901 by William Roche, as a small furniture shop, it grew to eleven stores throughout Ireland. As Debenhams it sells a wide range of goods, from cosmetics to houseware to clothes and stationery. It was for many years the only true department store chain in the country. Unlike its competitors, Roches Stores generally sold more branded items, particularly clothing. This lent it a more upmarket image than its competitors such as Dunnes Stores.
Roches Stores caused huge controversy in the 1970s and early 1980s when it demolished Frescati House in Blackrock, the home of Lord Edward FitzGerald.
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[edit] Withdrawal from food retailing
Formerly most of Roches Stores larger locations also had a supermarket on-site. In 1998 these stores became franchises of SuperValu, branded as "SuperValu at Roches Stores". However in 2005 most of Roches Stores supermarkets were closed down, the four remaining being operated as concessions - two (in Cork) by Caulfield/McCarthy, another SuperValu franchisee, and two (in Blackrock and Galway) by Marks and Spencer.
[edit] Acquisition by Debenhams plc
In July 2006, Irish newspapers reported that Roches Stores was in discussion with the British departement store chain, Debenhams plc, with regard to a possible sale of the business. On August 8, 2006, it was announced that Roches Stores' retailling business will be acquired by Debenhams for €29m[1]. The deal will see Debenhams acquire the retail business of 9 of the 11 Roches Stores operations - including stores at St. Patrick's Street in Cork, Henry Street in Dublin, Blackrock, Waterford, Tralee and O'Connell Street, Limerick - 500,000 sq ft of retailing space. Marks and Spencer plc had agreed to acquire the company's Wilton outlet in Cork as Debenhams already has a store operating in Cork, however that deal later fell through due to a dispute over rent with the owners of the centre. As a result both the Wilton store as well as the Nutgrove store (in Dublin) are to close, along with the company's head office. As part of the deal, the Roche-family will retain ownership of the group's property assets (the stores) and lease the premises back to Debenhams as their new tenant. The stores are to be rebranded as Debenhams, a move which will see the Roches Stores name disappear from the Irish high street in 2007, and which is causing a sadness of sorts among Irish consumers especially those in Cork.
In October 2006, Roches Stores placed adverts in the national newspapers advertising their latest sale as their "Closing Down Sale", beginning the process of transitioning to the Debenhams brand. Sections of stores are being replaced with Debenhams stock, fittings, signage and designers such as John Rocha and Jasper Conran. The Limerick Store is now fully Debenhams.
Up until the acquisition, the Roche family retained ownership of the stores. A noticeably private family, they maintained a low profile in Ireland in contrast to other large store owners.
