The electrical retailing chain ShopElectric, which opened its new flagship store in Belfast last week, is to open seven new superstores around Northern Ireland over the next 18 months.

Until three months ago, ShopElectric was the retailing arm of Northern Ireland Electricity. It was then sold off to a consortium of local businessmen led by the former boss of Hampden Homecare, Mr Les Armstrong. The buyin was supported by the venture capital company 3i, although NIE retains a shareholding in the company.

The £10 million transaction was brokered by the management consultants Coopers & Lybrand, who acted in a lead advisory capacity. Around a year previously, they had identified the chain as not fitting comfortably with NIE's core business. They believed that ShopElectric lacked investment and a long-term strategy, and needed fresh management and new capital to become a force in the Northern Ireland retail market. NIE agreed that if Coopers could find the right buyer, they would be willing to sell.

Mr Armstrong said that while the new superstores were an important development for the company, ShopElectric, which has around a quarter of Northern Ireland's white goods market, would continue to maintain a presence in the smaller towns. He said all 32 branches would be refurbished during the coming year, and the expansion of the chain would lead to a doubling of the current workforce of around 200 people.