Struggling electrical retailer Comet is circulating a list of 22 stores which it is looking to sell.
Comet has distributed the list of leasehold stores on prime retail parks, including Trafford Park in Manchester and Forbury Road in Reading, to other retailers this week according to the Financial Times.
If successful, the move could wipe £5m off Comet’s annual rent bill.
The move comes less than a month after Comet managing director Bob Darke reassured staff it would not be closing stores on a large-scale in an email seen by Retail Week.
Many of the stores on the list are believed to be the most expensive in the retailer’s 250 store portfolio. It includes Comet’s Scottish flagship on Edinburgh’s Maybury Retail Park.
These disposals would be in addition to the eight to 10 stores which Comet plans to exit as their leases expire over its current financial year
Comet has been the worst hit retailer in the troubled electrical market. It suffered a 15.2% plunge in like-for-like sales in its final quarter, bringing the fall for its year ending April 30 to 7.7%.
Parent company Kesa is thought to be mulling a sale of the embattled electrical retailer.
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