Arche Technology UK Ltd, based in Nottingham, will cease operation as from January 31. The company, which distributes MS-DOS personal computers for its Taiwan parent Kunnan Enterprises Group, is being shut down as part of a group decision that the UK should be managed from Kunnan’s European headquarters in France. Kunnan recently announced that it would be changing its distribution strategy (CI No 1,784), and reported that it would be duplicating its French PC Warehouse retail chain – there comprising 46 outlets, which are generating an annual turnover of UKP70m – in the UK. The first UK stores, intended to be set up in London, will now be delayed until the back end of 1992, since resources in France have to be built up to cope with the extra burden. Dealers were informed last week by letter of the decision to close down Arche UK in favour of the new retail chain. A total of 35 jobs are affected in Nottingham; 20 staff have already left, and just one director, Peter Coleman, remains to clear up. Outstanding matters relating to Arche UK, he says, will now be dealt with from France.
