AO World acquires camera retailer Jessops from Peter Jones

Online electricals retailer AO World has acquired Jessops, the camera retailer previously owned by Dragons' Den investor Peter Jones, according to The Guardian.

AO World said the deal, which it completed on Thursday, continues its strategy of broadening its product range beyond its traditional core categories of white goods, mobile phones and televisions. Jessops has faced well-documented financial difficulties in recent years, and the acquisition marks a change of ownership for the long-running camera specialist.

Peter Jones, known for his role as an investor on the BBC series Dragons' Den, had owned Jessops prior to the sale. The transaction adds a specialist camera retail brand to AO World's portfolio as the company looks to diversify its offering to consumers shopping for electronics online.

Camera retail has been a challenging sector in recent years amid competition from smartphone photography and online marketplaces, and specialist retailers such as Jessops have had to adapt their business models to remain viable. AO World's acquisition suggests continued interest in the camera retail niche as part of a broader electronics offering rather than as a standalone category.

The deal was reported as part of The Guardian's ongoing business coverage, with further details of AO World's plans for the Jessops brand expected to emerge as the acquisition is integrated.