• by Fern Siegel , March 21, 2022

Retailer Matalan named Havas Media Group as its media planning and buying agency of record, following a competitive review.

Havas Media Group will develop media experiences cross-platform to build on the company's branding as a “Real Life Ready” retailer for U.K. families. Matalan is a British fashion and homeware retailer with 229 stores in the UK, an ecommerce platform and 51 overseas franchise stores.

The agency is also charged with driving new customer acquisition and growing its ecommerce business. 

The Havas assignment begins in April. 

Matalan is the latest in a series of wins for the group, which has also picked up new business from Dolce & Gabbana, De Beers and UKTV, as well as being added to the government’s communications roster. 

The Matalan business will be run out of Havas Media’s Manchester, England, office, which already oversees the BBC media account.

Jeff Howarth, marketing director, Matalan, said the agency’s “focus was less on tools and processes and more on driving meaningful outcomes, which was a real validation of our own refined approach to media.”

The retail giant Matalan reported 2021 revenues of £778 million ($1 billion).