Steven Lew expands Global Retail Brands with acquisition of homewares business Salt&Pepper

Steven Lew — son of billionaire retail mogul Solomon Lew — has bolstered his Global Retail Brands by acquiring Melbourne-based homewares and kitchenware business Salt&Pepper.

Global Retail Brands is one of the nation’s biggest homeware retailers, employing 3000 people across 259 stores trading under the HOUSE, HOUSE Bed & Bath, Robins Kitchen and My House brands.

The group on Friday announced it had entered into a sale agreement to acquire Salt&Pepper’s retail, online and wholesale operations, with the deal expected to be completed early next week.

As part of the sale, GRB will operate 25 Salt&Pepper stores and retain its 220 team members. Salt&Pepper’s network include 12 in Victoria, three each in NSW and WA and four in Queensland.

GRB has plans to expand the store footprint to 65 over the next 12 months. The growth will be supported by a 50,000sqm distribution centre in Truganina, Victoria, which GRB invested $100 million to develop in 2021.

The group said the acquisition aligned with its strategy to consolidate its position as Australia’s biggest independent homewares retailer.

Steven Lew — GRB chair and chief executive — said since 2020, it had invested in four business, Bessemer, MyHouse, Lorraine Lea Linen and now Salt&Pepper.

“We are proud to continue our investment in great local retail brands that we can grow in partnership in partnership with our strong store and customer service teams,” he said.

“Salt&Pepper perfectly complements our existing portfolio and strengthens our mission to bring beautiful, functional and elegant homewares into Australian homes.

“Under GRB’s ownership, we will invest further in the brand to support its growth and continue to delight our customers.”

GRB also has 300 concession stores in offshore markets, including South Africa, Denmark, Canada and the US operating under The Custom Chef brand.