Apollo 2000 shuts 12 outlets in Midlands

Insurers have suffered a fresh blow to their supply chains from the collapse of electrical retailer Apollo 2000 earlier this month.

Insurers and loss adjusters used Apollo 2000, which operated 12 superstores across the Midlands, to supply electrical equipment for homes and businesses in the area.

It is the second blow insurers have suffered to their electrical goods supply chain after the earlier closure of Empire Direct.

However, Apollo 2000 has since been snapped up by Hughes Electrical. It will reopen eight of the 12 stores.

A spokeswoman for administrator KPMG said she could not comment on Apollo’s relationships with insurers.

Robert Hughes, the managing director of Hughes Electrical, said: “We have long admired Apollo 2000. Our customers and shops will benefit greatly from their expertise in kitchen appliances and we will provide Apollo customers with an increased range of vision and audio products.”

Worcester-based The Replacement Service (TRS), a rival supplier, has interviewed 18 Apollo staff to work on its database.

James Hislop, its chief executive, said: “Collective experience in all areas of product knowledge increases the ability of TRS to maintain its aggressive growth and manage its engineer network for the successful report and repair service increasingly required by the insurers.”

AXA and Allianz both said they had no dealings with Apollo.