Comet name U-turn as Clive Coombes plans to open Lewison’s stores instead

Clive Coombes, who had announced his intention to resurrect the Comet name as Meridian Comet, will now instead launch an electrical retail business known as Lewison’s.

Coombes had planned to merge Comet Electrical Distributors Ltd and Meridian Wholesale Ltd. He wants to open a chain of 80 stores – the first of which is due to open in November.

Coombes is in discussions with consumer electronics retailer Media Markt about a stake in the upcoming business, which Retail Week reports. He is seeking further investment to fund the launch of Lewison’s.

Deloitte, which owns the Comet brand, had previously stated that it was reviewing whether Coombes’ ‘Meridian Comet’ merger infringed its trademark.

Coobes had originally titled his new business ‘Project Contour’, named after the NASA space probe.