21 January 2005 – Hemel Hempstead (UK): Dixons has announced that it will create 2,200 store-based jobs this year, as New Zealand competitor PowerHouse announces that 300 jobs are under threat.
Speaking at Dixon Group’s interim results presentation, CEO John Clare said: "These new store-based positions will be created in our UK and international operations. Each new post underscores our determination to be number one in our market."
For the 28 week period ending 13 November 2004, the group posted a 9 per cent rise in comp sales to £3.4 billion ($6.4 billion). Pre-tax profit increased 23 per cent to £136.5 million.
Meanwhile at PowerHouse, which was bought by New Zealand-based Pacific Retail Group in 2003, more than 300 jobs are under threat and this is said to represent 10 per cent of the company’s workforce.
PowerHouse’s CEO Peter Halkett said that the job losses formed part of a restructuring process that began when the business was acquired.
