HMV and Asda veterans to take Grainger nationwide

Grainger Games has hired two retail experts in its bid to become a national brand.

The fast-rising independent chain has filled two key commercial and finance roles. Mark Blundell has been hired as finance and logistics director. Blundell boasts some 20 years experience at Asda, including a stint as finance director. More recently, he worked as finance director at Home Delivery Network.

Meanwhile, Simon Peck has signed up as commercial director. Peck used to be commercial director at HMV.

The pair join Grainger’s senior management team, which also includes MD Stephen Bowyer, chairman Jonathan Fellows and sales director Phil Moore.

I believe the team that now runs Grainger Games is one of the best and most experienced out there,” said Bowyer. We now see this as the spring board onto the next level for our business.”

Peck added: I spent 20 years at HMV, and I am delighted now to have found a group of people at Grainger that I know can deliver exceptional results.”

Most Grainger Games stores are in the North of England, but the retailer says the new team will realise its dreams of becoming a national brand. The firm has doubled in size in 12 months with 64 stores and opened a second distribution facility. And it’s not slowing down.

We have no shortage of locations and opportunities to consider,” added sales director Phil Moore.We have a proven store opening process. Once we know a location will work for us we are quick to open that unit – we opened seven stores over 10 days in March.

We will be opening more stores this year and will increase our market share as a result.”