Peacocks

Peacocks is a British value clothing retailer founded in 1884 in Warrington by Albert Peacock. It has been owned by Green Spark Holdings since April 2021, after emerging from administration.

What is Peacocks?

Peacocks is a British value clothing retailer with more than a century of history. It sells fashion through UK stores and, internationally, through franchise outlets operating as Peacocks London.

History

The business began in 1884 when Albert Peacock founded a family-run penny bazaar in Warrington. It moved to Cardiff in the 1940s and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1999. A management buyout led by Richard Kirk followed in 2005 and 2006, and the shares were delisted in February 2006.

• 2012: the company entered administration and was sold to The Edinburgh Woollen Mill, with 224 outlets not included in the sale
• 2020: The Edinburgh Woollen Mill entered administration
• 2021: Peacocks was taken over by Green Spark Holdings

Business model and distribution

Peacocks trades from physical stores in the United Kingdom. Outside the UK it franchises under the name Peacocks London, with more than 200 outlets across Africa, Asia and Europe according to reference sources. The sources used do not describe an e-commerce operation, so none is claimed here.

Why it matters

Peacocks is a case study in the consolidation and distress of the British high street. It has passed through a stock market listing, a management buyout and two administrations in a decade, and its franchise model abroad has helped it keep a presence beyond the UK.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Peacocks?

Peacocks has been owned by Green Spark Holdings Limited since April 2021, when it was acquired after coming out of administration.

Where is Peacocks from?

Peacocks is British. Albert Peacock founded it in Warrington in 1884, and it moved to Cardiff in the 1940s.

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