JB Hi-Fi chief executive Nick Wells has commented publicly for the first time on the retailer's decision to leave the Narta buying group on 31 December 2026, closing a membership that has run for 25 years.
Speaking to Appliance Retailer, Wells said both organisations had concluded together that the time was right to end the arrangement. He linked the timing to the size JB Hi-Fi has now reached, and said the change would also allow Narta to concentrate on supporting its remaining members.
Suppliers had raised questions about why the decision was taken at this point and what it would mean for the buying function and the data services that Narta has managed on JB Hi-Fi's behalf.
Transition and in-house work
Wells said the business would continue as normal until the membership concludes at the end of 2026, after which JB Hi-Fi would bring some of the services previously supplied by Narta into the company. He credited Narta with a role in the retailer's growth, thanked its team, and said the two sides would work closely over the coming weeks to keep the handover smooth.
On disclosure, Wells said the decision was an important piece of news for suppliers but did not warrant an announcement to the ASX. He framed it as a matter of focus for both organisations rather than one of additional money, and therefore not material from an ASX perspective.