EMPLOYEES at Bromsgrove DIY giant LG Harris and Co have breathed a sigh of relief after it was confirmed, not only will their jobs safe following a takeover, but the operation at the Stoke Prior site will also be expanded.
Norwegian firm Orkla has now bought LG Harris and Co Ltd, which employs 350 people in Bromsgrove and 650 at a factory in China.
As well as maintaining its Bromsgrove workforce, it is also possible Orkla will bring more staff there from Attleborough, the companies original head office.
Following the purchase, Orkla is proposing to close its Hamilton Acorn’s office and make Bromsgrove its new headquarters. The agreement was announced in May this year and they finally signed on the dotted line last week.
This means the company has now doubled in size and can offer both Harris and Hamilton brands across the professional and DIY paint application market.
Staff from the Attleborough site are being given the option to move to new HQ building, including managing director Steve Edwards who will continue his role as part of a planned integration between the two brands.
The consolidated business in the UK will be headed up by Stuart Hobbs, previously Sales and Marketing Director at Harris.
He said “Orkla and Harris have long been independently successful companies. We share a common cultural approach in business which has underpinned a shared confidence and optimism in Orkla’s acquisition of Harris. Now, as a part of a larger group, under Orkla ownership, we see an exciting opportunity for global expansion in our sector”.
