Belfast and Portadown expansion for 86-year-old Fermanagh family firm.
Ulster Bank supports substantial investment by S.D .Kells to grow to 17 stores
Fermanagh-based S.D. Kells is expanding to 17 stores and 160 staff across Northern Ireland through a significant investment supported by Ulster Bank.
The third-generation family business is increasing the size of its flagship men’s clothing store on Belfast’s Bedford Street by 50 per cent and opening a brand new 5,500 sq ft outlet on Market Street, Portadown.
The investment of over half a million pounds, which will create at least seven new jobs, is also expected to be followed by further new store openings in a range of other local market towns.
Ulster Bank, which has been the company’s bank since S.D. Kells was founded in 1928, is providing finance through the Bank of England’s Funding for Lending Scheme to support the expansion, in addition to providing a range of other banking services.
The company, which is now owned and managed by a team including the founders’ son and three grandsons, stocks menswear and womenswear, formal hire, childrenswear, schoolwear, outdoorwear, beds and linens.
Headquartered at Lackaghboy Industrial Estate, Enniskillen, S.D. Kells’ network of stores across Northern Ireland covers towns and cities such as Omagh, Lurgan, Larne, Newtownards, Banbridge and Armagh.
Shauna Burns, Head of Ulster Bank’s Mid Ulster and Fermanagh Business Centre, says: “S.D. Kells is an excellent, well-managed family business that we are very pleased to help steadily grow through a series of well-thought-out investments. These latest investments in Belfast and Portadown will certainly enhance the company’s already strong presence in key towns and cities.”
“We are strongly committed to supporting the company to achieve its objective of securing outlets in all of Northern Ireland’s main market towns, and are working closely with the business as it continues to actively look for further opportunities to expand. We have £1billion to lend to businesses this year and are keen to support good local companies to help them achieve their ambitions,” Ms Burns continues.
S.D. Kells Chairman, Roy Kells, says: “We have an extremely long and productive relationship with Ulster Bank that has spanned many decades, and their expertise and continuing support is a central plank in the company’s on-going plans for growth and success”.
S.D. Kells is Northern Ireland's long-established family department chain. Further information about the company is available at: www.sdkells.co.uk
