Car parts and bikes retailer Halfords has kick-started a trial of small bike-focused high street shops in London.

Chief executive David Wild said Halfords needs to be “flexible in its formats” as a way of expanding in the face of limited high-quality retail park space for its Halfords superstore format. Two Halfords Metro shops have opened, in Kilburn and Wimbledon, covering 2,000 sq ft. This compares with Halfords’ superstore format that covers up to 8,000 sq ft.

Wild said the stores are “focused on cycles and include the best of the rest” in terms of car maintenance.Halfords has another Metro store in Stoke Newington, which it has refitted in the last six months to test the format.

Wild said the urban areas benefit from “lots of passing trade”.

Halfords closed its standalone bike shops Bike Hut and Cycle Republic in 2009, but Wild said Halfords Metro would benefit from brand recognition.

Halfords was expected to reveal its prelims on Thursday as Retail Week went to press.

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