YORK based global footwear retailer Pavers has expanded its UK store portfolio after buying four shoe shops from the beleaguered Brantano brand.

The stores, located in Lincoln, Bournemouth, Newton Abbot and Newport, have been purchased by Pavers from administrators PwC for an undisclosed sum.

Stuart Paver, managing director of the York family firm, based at Northminster Business Park, said: “We have recently made it clear that Pavers is embarking on a period of carefully planned and focussed expansion.

“The opportunity presented by Brantano Footwear going into administration fitted perfectly into our expansion plans, allowing us to move into areas of the UK where we are under-represented, whilst paying a sensible price.”

Mr Paver said the jobs at all four sites will be safe, with the stores expected to reopen in six to eight weeks following rebranding work.

Speaking about Brantano, which was owned by private equity firm Alteri, lead administrator at PwC Tony Barrell, said: “Despite significant improvements in the business and reductions in the cost base, trading has continued to suffer in a depressed and competitive footwear market.

“Like many other retailers, Brantano has been hit by the decline in sterling, the ongoing shift in consumer shopping habits and the evolution of the UK retail environment.”

Earlier this month Pavers revealed its bid for the ailing Jones The Bootmaker was the clearest of signals that the company was now embarking on a strategy of expansion.

Although the bid was unsuccessful, Pavers bosses said they remained determined to strengthen the firm’s position the in the competitive footwear sector both in the UK and abroad.

Mr Paver said: “We are now determined to increase our presence and portfolio in the high street, especially in the south of England, and this is one of our main objectives in the next couple of years. So the opportunity to buy four Brantano stores was very opportune.

“Taken in conjunction with the opening of a new store at Singapore Airport and major expansion plans at our headquarters at Northminster Business Park in York, the future of Pavers looks extremely bright.

The fast-growing company, which last year had annual sales of more than £105 million, has been strengthened by the appointment of Jason Paver, grandson of the firm’s founder Catherine Paver, as director of Sales. Jason joined Pavers last year, having previously been an executive director with Goldman Sachs in London and New York.