Bradford is to lose another of its familiar brands with the loss of the Empire Stores name.

Empire is one of a number of key companies in the district which have changed their name in recent years through acquisitions - often by foreign companies. The firm, which yesterday announced three key changes, is part of the Redcats Group and is to be called Redcats UK. The company, based on Canal Road, yesterday said its managing director Mike Hawker was to become the chief executive of rival Grattan and his place would be taken at Empire by marketing director Andy Hill.

The firm also announced another key appointment, with merchandise director Jim Skelsey, 48, becoming new sourcing director.

Over the last few years former Bradford chemical group Allied Colloids has become Ciba Speciality Chemicals since it was taken over by a Swiss firm, Watmoughs Print, which was started in Bradford, has become Polestar Watmough since it was acquired by a firm in Bahrain and Baildon firm N D Marston has been taken over by a Japanese company to become Denso Marston.

Hartmut Kramer, Redcat Group chairman, said: "This new identity has absolutely no commercial implication and changes nothing for our famous UK brand of Empire and its sister catalogue brands in the UK."

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