Mamas & Papas to return to Whiteley - and 7 jobs are up for grabs
ONE of the UK’s biggest baby brands has confirmed that it is returning to Whiteley Shopping Centre.
Mamas & Papas was one of the original stores to open at Whiteley Shopping Centre when it opened in 2013.
However, the Whiteley branch was one of six stores closed in November 2019 when the nursery chain collapsed into administration.
Bluegem Capital, which has owned the business since 2014, bought the company assets through a pre-pack administration.
The Whiteley branch has remained unused ever since the closure.
Now, the business has confirmed that it is due to reopen shortly – and it has posted job advertisements looking for seven new members of staff for the store.
A spokeswoman for Mamas & Papas said: ‘We are very pleased to bring Mamas & Papas back to Whiteley.
‘We’ve had many customers get in touch with us to express their desire to see us return and so we’re confident there is great demand in the local area.
‘We’re excited to welcome everyone back when we reopen in November.’
The store will be managed by the previous store manager, who has been managing the Farnborough store since the closure. Three other team members will also be returning to their roles.
More information on the store and its opening plans will be released in the coming weeks. It is expected to reopen in mid November.
Mamas & Papas, which started more than 40 years ago, offers a range of travel systems, nursery furniture and children’s clothing.
It is based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and has 27 stores in the UK and Ireland as well as 20 in the Middle East.
The nearest store currently is at West Quay in Southampton.