BoyleSports buys stores from liquidated-Hacketts
Four Irish shops rebranded following acquisition with Boyles still keen on Ladbrokes-Coral UK shops
BoyleSports has acquired four stores from liquidated Irish bookmaker Hacketts and is still in the hunt to buy Ladbrokes-Coral shops ahead of the two firm’s proposed merger.
The Irish operator has reopened the outlets in Cashel (Co Tipperary), Callan (Co Kilkenny), Mountmellick (Co Laois) and Rathkeale (Co Limerick) – all rebranded as BoyleSports.
As part of BoyleSport’s ?4m, three-year innovation programme, the newly-acquired stores will include the installation of a suite of new screens and free wi-fi to enable customers to access its online products.
The acquisition brings the total number of BoyleSports outlets to 212 across all of Ireland.
BoyleSports is also still interested in buying Ladbrokes-Coral shops, despite recent reports suggesting Betfred is in pole position to acquire the 350-400 stores the two companies must dispose of in order for the proposed merger to go through.
“We were saddened by the liquidation of Hacketts, which has been an integral part of the Irish bookmaking landscape for over 50 years,” said Jenna Boyle, head of retail at Boylesports. “At a retail level the Irish bookmaking sector is the most competitive in the world.
“As well as having the widest range of betting opportunities and the most comfortable surroundings of any betting chain, our new customers can look forward to getting the most competitive prices available in the market,” she added.