Frasers Group reportedly in talks to buy THG’s high-end Coggles ops

Frasers Group may have come unstuck with its Matches purchase late last year, but the company doesn’t appear to have lost its appetite for making acquisitions and its latest target is reported to be Coggles, the designer retail business owned by THG.

Several sources have said that it’s in talks about taking over the operation, although Retail Gazette has said it’s actually close to finalising a deal to buy the premium/high-end fashion business.

What its plans might be for Coggles are unclear. On one hand it could continue to run it. But if it doesn’t live up to expectations, there’s speculation that it could go the same way as Matches and indie retailer Aphrodite that the company reportedly has now closed even though it only acquired it earlier this year. It has also shut the Kids Cavern and Base Childrenswear businesses that it acquired with a basket of other brands from JD sports a little over a year ago.

There’s also the suggestion that, as Coggles’ line-up of around 200 brands potentially makes it a rival of the group’s Flannels stores and webstore, it may be shuttered as an independent business and integrated into Flannels.

It sells labels including Calvin Klein, Belstaff, Anine Bing, Balenciaga, MCM, Lanvin, Diesel, Ferragamo, JW Anderson, Paul Smith, Tod’s, Saint Laurent, Thom Browne and many more.

Coggles was founded in 1974 as Sarah Coggles selling upscale fashion and accessories for men and women, as well as homewares. The name was later shortened to Coggles and THG bought it out of administration in 2013. Although its physical stores weren’t part of the deal, it returned to physical retail in 2018 with a store in Alderley Edge. 

Neither Frasers Group nor THG have commented on the story.