Tapi has opted out of Ireland and the Channel Islands in the Carpetright buyout

It was speculated that buying Carpetright could give Tapi inroads into the Irish market, where it currently doesn’t trade, but the flooring retailer has instead opted out of buying any of its rival’s Irish stores. 

Carpetright operates seven stores in Ireland, including four in Dublin, as well as two in Northern Ireland located in Belfast and Newtownabbey.

The move leaves the potential for Carpetright’s business in Ireland to be bought by another player.

While Carpetright’s stores in the republic will continue to trade, the stores in Northern Ireland are set to close in the days to come. 

Tapi has also left Carpetright’s stores in Jersey and Guernsey off its buyout list, as well as the Isle of Wight – leaving them all earmarked for closure. 

When the deal was announced this week, Tapi managing director Jeevan Karir said the group was “desperately sad not to have been able to save more of the business and customer orders.”

He added: “Our goal, initially, was to try to save all of Carpetright. However, as we looked into the details of the situation, we quickly established that saving the entire business was unviable. The business has been materially loss-making for a number of years and it has significant debt held by the owner.”

Kevin Barrett, chief executive of Nestware Holdings, the Meditor-controlled group that owns Carpetright, said: “We have tried everything to turn Carpetright around and I’m truly sorry that we were unable to save more jobs. The deal will not affect Carpetright in Europe or other brands within Nestware Holdings including Keswick and Trade Choice.

“The Floor Room will continue to trade and serve customers via concessions at John Lewis and we will be working hard to secure job opportunities across these businesses to support Carpetright staff wherever we can.”

Tapi has been approached for comment.