Metcash splurge gives Bunnings run for its money

METCASH has beaten out private equity to buy a 50.1 per cent stake in hardware group Mitre 10, handing Metcash boss Andrew Reitzer a new business pillar to compete with Bunnings and the ambitious hardware venture being plotted by Woolworths.

Metcash walks $55m plank for plunge into hardware

METCASH has beaten off a private equity bid to buy a 50.1 per cent stake in the hardware group Mitre 10, giving the grocery wholesaler a solid platform for competing with the market leader, Bunnings, and the rival venture being plotted by Woolworths.