Online nursery retailer Kiddicare has appointed advisory firm Grant Thornton to consult on a possible sale after receiving multiple bid approaches.
The family owned retailer is thought to be considering bids to aid its ambitious growth targets.
It is thought Kiddicare chief executive Scott Weavers-Wright wants to build the business to exceed £100m turnover over the next two to three years, with international expansion a key part of its plans.
The company is understood to have received several approaches from private equity firms over the past 18 months but has more recently received interest from within the trade. It is thought Weavers-Wright will continue to lead the business if a sale goes through.
It is understood no bids from rival online firms are being considered.
First-round bids are expected to be submitted by Christmas and if a suitable buyer emerges a sale should conclude by March 2011.
Kiddicare is a predominantly online retailer although it has one 60,000 sq ft megastore in Peterborough. Launching multiple big-box stores may be considered a growth opportunity by potential suitors although the firm is predominantly a technology driven business.
Last month the nursery retailer launched a mobile website and iPhone app that lets users scan barcodes in rival stores and check prices against Kiddicare’s.
A paid-for merchandising system was launched in October that allows brands to position themselves more prominently on the website.
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