HochAndA will leAve the city As Lidl moves into its premises

TV shopping channel and its 120 staff get ready for spring departure

Newly-created TV shopping channel Hochanda is preparing to leave Peterborough as supermarket operator Lidl moves into its base. Hochanda, of Mancetter Square, is getting ready to moveits 120 staff andits operations into theformerhomeof Fairline Boats, near the A605, in Oundle.

The craft and hobbies channel is making way for Lidl, which has acquired the lease ontheMancetterSquare warehouse where it plans to invest millions of pounds in a new store that will create 40 jobs.

It is anticipated that the relocation will take place in either MarchorApril next year.

Hochanda’s chief executive Jamie Martin said: “We always knew that the current arrangements wouldbeshort term.

“Wehavelookedat various premisesinPeterboroughbut none of them were suitable.

He added: “The former Fairline BoatsofficesinOundle are of a higher standard than our current premises.

“However, wewouldrather not have the upheaval of mov- ing butthat is just the wayit is.

“Thisis anewbusinessand if it had not worked then we did not want to be left with a long lease around our necks.”

Hochanda was set up just over a year ago by Ideal World founders Paul Wright and Val Kaye after securing £1.9 million in crowd funding. The business broke even in just five months and has already launched in Europe.

Fairline Boats had to leave its offices after going into administration last year with the loss of 380 jobs. Its assets were bought by two Russian investors who set up Fairline Yachts, based in Oundle’s Nene Valley Industrial Estate.