Mann sells to its rival

A major portion of the produce store that grew into a major retailer has been sold to Bunnings for an undisclosed sum but no jobs will be lost.

The deal also involves the national hardware giant renting the existing centre — bounded by the rail line, Hovell, South and High streets — until a $20 million Bunnings warehouse is built on Anzac Parade near the Bandiana Link road.

The Mann family and Stuart Gilchrist will be builder and landlord to the 9224sq m warehouse on the land previously earmarked for a Mitre 10 Mega store.

A tentative completion date has been set for March next year.

Last night, staff at the Wodonga Mitre 10 and Bunnings stores were told of the sale that will see a change of livery by March 16.

The sale includes the hardware, garden, timber, industrial and plumbing businesses of Mann Mitre 10 Home and Trade.

Both the rural and steel businesses are expected to be sold in the near future.

Bunnings chief operating officer Peter Davis said all 90 staff employed at the two hardware stores would be retained.

“We will lease the existing South St store from the Mann family until the new warehouse is completed, at which time both smaller format stores and their respective teams will be amalgamated into the major retail outlet,” he said.

“Bunnings has been looking to expand its existing Wodonga business for several years and when this opportunity arose it didn’t hesitate.”

Mann general manager Noel Howard said the deal had come together in the past two months.

“Bunnings approached us just before Christmas with similar research to our own on the need for a major hardware warehouse,” he said.

“In the short-term there was little chance that two such stores could survive so this is a solution that benefits all parties — and most importantly the staff.”

There are no immediate plans for the land left vacant by the Bunnings relocation next March but it is expected to be highly sought after by developers with the planned relocation of the rail line.

Wodonga council will also need to approve amendments to a development application previously approved for the Mitre 10 Mega store on Anzac Parade.

Bunnings operates 238 stores across Australia and New Zealand, including a warehouse in Albury on Young St.

Editorial — page 28