NORTHERN Electric's Clifton Moor-based store empire has become the fourth largest electrical retailer in the UK, with the acquisition of Shop Electric of Northern Ireland.

The nine-month-old Northern Retail Limited, whose HQ is in the Clifton Moor Centre, has doubled its turnover to £100 million by acquiring ShopElectric's 29 High Street outlets and six superstores for an undisclosed sum.

The deal involved acquiring ShopElectric from 3I's Viridian and a management buy-in team.

Northern Retail Limited was formed on August 16 last year following the successful management buyout and buy-in of the Northern Electric plc retail operation. It operates 17 high street stores and 11 superstores across Yorkshire and the North East.

Updated: 09:02 Tuesday, May 20, 2003