Fonehouse has acquired mobile phone and repair retailer Armafone, adding four supermarket locations to its network as it pursues plans to grow to more than 100 stores. 

The deal, completed last week, gives Fonehouse sites inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Norwich, Colchester and Chelmsford, and an Asda in Ipswich. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Armafone was founded and run by Chris Everitt, (below) providing in-store repairs alongside mobile phone and accessory sales. It also operated a mobile repair service in the region until recently.

The acquisition, together with a new store opening in Warminster this weekend, takes Fonehouse’s estate to more than 60 locations.

Fonehouse said its retail estate has tripled since KTM Online acquired the brand in late 2017, alongside an expansion of its online business.

The company reported five consecutive years of double-digit growth across its retail business. It cited the introduction of tech repair services in 2022 as a significant source of store footfall.

A shop refit programme launched in 2024 has now covered more than half the estate, with Fonehouse reporting a significant sales uplift at refurbished stores.

Chief operating officer James Carr said: “In the last few years we’ve made some fantastic progress growing the estate through several strategic projects. The Armafone acquisition opens some exciting new opportunities and we expect it will help us achieve our ambitious growth plans.”

Chief executive Ben Branson (below) said: “The growth that our retail team has achieved over the last few years in a challenging market has been phenomenal. This is another initiative that will aid future growth and expand the brand through several new high footfall locations.”