Empire electrical goods group has bought a huge new site in Bradford in a £5 million deal.

The company, which started life in the city and runs an Electrical Megastore in Ingleby Road, hopes to create up to 100 jobs locally for warehouse staff and computer operators at the 102,000 sq ft former Bookers unit in Canal Road.

The firm will use the storage and office complex as the central warehouse and logistics centre for its growing retail and mail order operations.

Group marketing manager, Parshotam Showan, commenting on the deal, said Empire operated in a very competitive market with wafer thin margins, where keeping operating costs to a minimum was vital: "We have found that apart from having our roots in Bradford, it also offers us many advantages in providing that vital competitive edge.

"This latest acquisition is complementary to the considerable investment that the company has recently completed in its information technology infrastructure and a state-of-the-art call centre at its Leeds offices. We are now in a strong position to realise our plans to push sales beyond £200m by the year 2003."

In a recent survey into the UK's electrical retailers by accountants KPMG, Empire came top ahead of the Comet and Currys/Dixons groups in most business performance ratios.

The group, which sells cut-price electrical brands, has enjoyed rapid growth since it was established 18 years ago and saw its sales soar by 40 per cent in the year ending March, 2001.

Mr Showan said: "We are obviously delighted with the outcome of the survey but the results come as no surprise.

"However, what these ratios do not show is the quality of the service and customer loyalty, which I believe is the real reason for the success of Empire Electrical."

The new site is due to be opened in June with the recruiting of staff expected to commence in July.