UK Batteries has signalled its intentions for growth in 2009 by purchasing the Northern Ireland Division of Energy Batteries Limited from the appointed administrator.

The Northern Ireland Division of Energy Batteries went into administration on Tuesday, 10 February and administrators quickly made the eight-strong workforce redundant.

But on learning about the administration, UK Batteries immediately stepped in and acquired the Belfast-based business. UK Batteries has also re-employed the workforce, headed by Hector Johnston, which was made redundant shortly after the administrator moved in.

As of Monday, 16 February, the business was under the full control of UK Batteries and was no longer affiliated in any way to Energy Batteries Limited.

UK Batteries has already provided the Belfast branch with stocks of high-quality batteries to ensure customers’ immediate needs are met and that the level of availability matches the market-leading levels achieved by UK Batteries on the mainland.

UK Batteries will service customers in both the north and south of Ireland from its brand-new Belfast operation and regards this latest acquisition as an invaluable means of further increasing its distribution reach.

UK Batteries’ deputy managing director, Bob Price, said: “The Irish battery market is very significant and when this opportunity came up, we jumped at the chance to take the business over. We already have distribution both north and south of the border but having a local branch will help us to significantly enhance our market share.

“We will be working very hard to meet the demands of the existing customers and we know that they will be very impressed when they experience our exemplary levels of customer service – the qualities that have made UK Batteries the business it is today.”

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