THE retailing arm of a major energy provider has doubled in size after acquiring a similar business.

The purchase of ShopElectric makes Northern Retail Limited the UK's fourth largest electrical retailer, with a £100m turnover.

The company, which was formed in August last year by bosses of Northern Electric's retail division, bought the chain for an undisclosed sum.

ShopElectric operates 29 high street shops and six superstores in Northern Ireland, and its turnover last year was more than £50m.

The two companies will continue to operate under their own names, under a new holding company called ShopElectric Group.

David Crompton, group managing director of the ShopElectric Group, said: "While this acquisition came early in our own business development, the synergies and common heritage of the businesses meant that this was an unmissable opportunity for us to develop the value-added focus that we have applied to Northern Electric's shops since our buy-out.

"Together, we are able to provide a better service for all our customers.

"Now that we have achieved £100m turnover, we are the fourth largest electrical retailer in the country, helped by our award winning website pluggedin.co.uk"

Northern Retail operates 17 high street stores and 11 superstores in Yorkshire and the North-East.

The group will have 46 high street stores and 17 superstores, including the ShopElectric branches in Northern Ireland.

A spokesman for Viridian said: "Viridian has a policy of sticking to its core competencies and while this disposal represented good value for our shareholders, we were also pleased that we were able to find a purchaser who was committed to Northern Ireland jobs, and thereby our local economy."