Next puts best foot forward in pursuit of Russell & Bromley 

Next has teamed up with a banal clearance specializer arsenic it pursues a takeover of the family-owned footwear retailer Russell & Bromley.

Sky News has learnt that the FTSE-100 retailer is moving with Retail Realisation, which badges itself arsenic a specializer retail advisory firm, connected its involvement successful the 145-year-old chain.

Industry sources said the confederation betwixt them underlined Next's involvement successful Russell & Bromley's marque alternatively than its store property oregon stock.

Next's connection is 1 of a fig thought to beryllium nether information by Interpath, which is advising Russell & Bromley connected the process.

The retail elephantine is besides pursuing a imaginable woody for LK Bennett, the manner marque which filed a announcement of volition to name administrators past week.

Russell & Bromley trades from 37 stores and employs much than 450 people.

It was formed successful 1880 erstwhile the archetypal Russell & Bromley store opened successful Eastbourne.

Seven years earlier, George Bromley and Elizabeth Russell, some of whom hailed from shoemaking families, were married, paving the mode for the constitution of the business.

Russell & Bromley is present tally by Andrew Bromley, the 5th procreation of his household to clasp the reins.

Billie Piper, the histrion and singer, is the existent look of the marque arsenic it tries to entreaty to younger consumers arsenic portion of a five-year turnaround plan.

In caller years, Next has bought brands specified arsenic Cath Kidston, Joules and Seraphine, the maternitywear retailer for knockdown prices.

Next besides owns Made.com, the online furnishings retailer, and FatFace, the precocious thoroughfare manner brand.

Under Lord Wolfson, its seasoned main executive, Next has defied the wider precocious thoroughfare gloom to go 1 of the UK's best-run businesses.