A caravan and outdoor leisure retailer has strengthened its motor home operations after buying a dealership in Staffordshire.

A caravan and outdoor leisure retailer has strengthened its motor home operations after buying a dealership in Staffordshire.

Discover Leisure plc has moved into the Midlands market with the acquisition of the site in Cannock from the Brownhills Group.

The dealership, which sells European and US-manufactured motor homes from a five-acre leasehold site, was bought for some £2.66 million, part funded through debt.

Discover Leisure chief executive Trevor Parker said this acquisition is part of its strategy to build its business across the UK.

The acquired dealership, with 30 employees, will benefit from being under Discover Leisure’s ownership by selling an expanded product range, which will include touring caravans.

The dealership is the latest addition to Discover Leisure’s portfolio, following its takeover of caravan retailer Leisure World for £5.75 million and the £20 million it paid for Barrons Holdings, a seller of caravans, motorhomes and accessories. It also owns Mendip Caravan Centre, which has three retail outlets.

The acquired business reported an £18.15 million turnover in the year to December 2006, and its board expect revenues of £13.18 million in its last financial year. This fall in turnover is due to the change in the motor home chassis that has affected the industry.

Discover Leisure, formerly Titan Move, was established as a cash shell to buy businesses in the leisure and tourism sector. The East Yorkshire-based group, which floated on AIM in 2005, has 15 branches employing more than 600 people across England and Wales.