Harvey Norman to expand into GB with store in Birmingham

Australian retailer Harvey Norman will cross the Irish Sea with the opening of its first store in mainland Britain.

The home and electrical chain is opening its first store in England at the Merry Hill shopping centre in Dudley, on the outskirts of Birmingham.

The retailer will take over the majority of the space previously occupied by Debenhams, and is slated for an opening in autumn 2024.

Harvey Norman already has a UK presence with two stores in Northern Ireland, but its latest venture will see its first foray into the GB market.

The retailer has more than 300 stores in eight countries, with 16 of these in the Republic of Ireland. It also has a presence in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, Malaysia and Croatia.

Jonathan Poole, centre manager at Merry Hill, said: “We’re delighted to share the news that global lifestyle, technology, and entertainment brand, Harvey Norman, are coming to Merry Hill.

“With a wide range of homewares, furniture and appliances, the store will have something for everyone, including cameras for budding photographers, kitchen equipment for foodies, and the latest big brand TVs, smartphones, consoles, and laptops, for tech enthusiasts.”

Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page added: “With its exceptional connectivity and a population around the same size as New Zealand – where we have 42 stores – it’s clear that the West Midlands represents a significant growth opportunity for Harvey Norman.

“We have been in the UK for many years with two stores in Northern Ireland, so we look forward to opening our new Flagship store in Merry Hill later this year.”

The group’s foray into England was helped along by the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which came into effect from 31 May 2023.

Harvey Norman Holdings, the retail store’s corporate entity, had c.€1.6bn in overseas company-operated revenue in 2023, with the shops delivering a pre-tax profit of €84m.