DIY chain Focus Do It All has turned to financial specialists Hudson Sandler to help raise its profile in the City.
The home improvement group - which recently bought RMC Group's Great Mills chain for pounds 285m - has tasked Hudson Sandler with communicating its strategies as a newly enlarged company.
Hudson Sandler director Andrew Hayes heads the account, leading a team of two and reporting to Focus Do It All (FDIA) head of communications Anthea Fosti.
Hayes said: 'We are helping make sure the financial community understands their growth strategy and the strengths of the integrated business going forward.'
FDIA first came into contact with Hudson Sandler during its attempted hostile takeover bid of DIY Wickes earlier this year - at which time Hudson Sandler represented Wickes, and City PR agency Square Mile acted on behalf of FDIA.
Wickes successfully fended off FDIA's original bid but accepted a later, more generous offer of pounds 298m, for which Hudson Sandler handled PR on both sides. Now Hudson Sandler is retained as the entire group's financial PR agency, appointed without a competitive pitch.
FDIA is backed by Duke Street Capital, which recently pulled out of bidding for Sainsbury's Homebase DIY arm following price disputes.
