Mothercare plc is the owner of Mothercare Global Brand Limited (MGB), a globally franchised brand for parents and young children. MGB designs, sources and supplies products across clothing and many other essential categories including baby, nursery, feedtime, bathtime and playtime providing the the needs of parents and young children across the world.
The first Mothercare store was opened in 1961 in Surrey, UK - initially, focussing on pushchairs, nursery furniture and maternity clothing. Subsequently the range was expanded to include clothing for children up to the age of five and later up to the age of eight. The brand now offers a wide range of clothing and essential products through a network of global franchise partners who operate approximately 700 dedicated Mothercare stores in some 36 countries around the world. There are also more than an additional 400 stores in which the Mothercare brand is sold.
The business started its mail order business in 1962. In 1972 Mothercare first became a public company, and in 1982 Mothercare merged with the Habitat chain of retailers to form Habitat Mothercare plc. In 1984, Mothercare began to expand internationally through entering into franchise arrangements with select partners in chosen countries. In 1986, Habitat Mothercare plc joined British Home Stores plc under the Storehouse umbrella and during the 1990s, the merged group was rationalised. In 2000, Mothercare became the sole brand and the holding company's name was changed to Mothercare plc.
In June 2007, the group acquired Chelsea Stores Holdings Limited which was the holder of the Early Learning Centre brand. In March 2019, the brand and certain assets of Early Learning Centre were sold to The Entertainer. The Entertainer subsequently ran the toy offer in Mothercare stores and online.
In 2018, a restructuring programme was launched in order to:
1 secure a financial structure for the whole of the Mothercare group which maintained a sustainable business model with a capacity to secure future growth; and
2 evolve, adapt and optimise the structure, format and model for UK retail operations within a Mothercare UK franchise.
In November 2019, Mothercare UK Limited was placed into administration with all Mothercare UK retail stores and the online platform closed in early January 2020.
In autumn 2020, Mothercare announced Boots UK Limited as its exclusive UK franchise partner.
In 2022 the franchise operations in Russia were suspended and the brand subsequently withdrawn from the territory.
