Is Halfords up-for-sale?
“The market could again focus on clearer boundaries between specialist retailers, providing specialist service and products, whilst Halfords battle for the entry market where they first built their market share. However, the concern is that this is an insincere strategy aimed at bolstering the P&L bottom line and the balance sheet. This is a concern backed up by Halfords increased focus on forcing their margins up via the likes of their auction buying and now their dictat to suppliers over payment terms. Halfords demand for greater supplier funding if suppliers should cave in will simply mean less support for the IBD sector, who will be left with few options to turn to. Go on, is it? “The industry cannot afford to fund a financial makeover for Halfords so that it can be made to look more attractive, perhaps for onward disposal or management share options.” Invest in IBDs, or else “A major element of ACTs strategy is the development of good retail practices through training and investme
