HAMPDEN, the Belfast group which holds the Texas Homecare franchise for both the Republic and Northern Ireland, is planning further expansion through a franchise agreement with the British textiles retailer, Rosebys.

Under the agreement with Rosebys, Hampden is planning to set up 25 Rosebys outlets, split roughly evenly between the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Each outlet will be about 1,500 square feet and will be set up in main shopping areas or in shopping centres.

The outlets will retail various textiles including bed linen, table linen, towels, quilts, duvets, curtains and fabrics.

According to Hampden, there is no other such national textiles retailer in Ireland. Hampden has hired Ms Alanna Cassidy, former business development manager with The Body Shop in Ireland, to run the new Rosebys operation.

Hampden managing director, Mr Les Armstrong said that the first Rosebys shops would open in the Dublin area during the summer. Once they are established it is planned to expand the chain to bigger towns such as Cork and Galway.

Mr Armstrong declined to identify specific sites, nor would he comment on the investment involved or the expected turnover from the Rosebys shops.

"Today we have added a fifth arm to Hampden, building on our strategy of taking proven retail formulae and applying it to the Northern Ireland and Irish Republic markets," he added.

Mr Michael Rosenblatt of Rosebys said: "We are very pleased to be co operating, with, highly successful retailers in geographic areas which we do not already serve.

Late last year, Hampden set up a £1.6 million joint venture with the Scottish furniture manufacturer Reid Group to establish ten furniture stores that would trade under the name Reid Furniture.