120 regional jobs to go as First Quench administrators shut stores
MORE than 120 jobs will go locally after the administrators for Threshers owner First Quench announced the closure of 24 stores in Merseyside and West Cheshire.
Administrators KPMG said 373 stores will close across the country with the loss of 1,738 jobs. 247 of the First Quench stores being closed will trade until November 25, while a further 126 are to stay open until December 2.
First Quench – which also trades as Wine Rack, The Local, Haddows, Bottoms Up and Victoria Wine – fell into administration last month after struggling amid the recession.
There are 17 affected The Local stores, six Wine Rack outlets and one Threshers, which will see 124 jobs lost.
Richard Fleming, UK head of restructuring at KPMG and joint administrator, said: “Unfortunately, after reviewing the viability of the store network, 373 loss-making stores are to be closed.
“As part of the closure programme, liquidation sales will take place at each of the stores scheduled to be closed with the stock being sold off at a discount from Friday November 6.”
First Quench currently operates around 1,200 stores across Scotland, England and Wales under its various brands and employs approximately 6,300 people.
Mr Fleming said the group’s remaining stores will remain open and trade as normal while administrators search for a buyer.
“So far, we have received considerable interest in the business from a range of buyers, including trade, individual investors and private equity,” he said.
“The remaining stores are trading well and we believe they present an attractive investment. We are confident of securing a sale in the coming weeks.”
The affected stores are
The Local (91 jobs):
Aintree Road, Bootle; Manchester Road, Southport; Cooks Road, Crosby; Queens Road, Southport; Teehey Lane, Higher Bebington; Moss Lane, Orrell Park; Bridge Road, Crosby; Woolton Road, Childwall; Altway, Old Roan;The Crescent, Thornton; Priory Road, Liverpool; Arrowe Park Road, Upton; Upton Road, Birkenhead; Thingwall Road, Irby; Buttermarket Street, Warrington; Langdale Road, Runcorn; Warrington Road, Whiston.
Wine Rack (27 jobs):
Station Road, Ainsdale; Liverpool Road, Birkdale; Village Road, Heswall; Faulkner Street, Hoole; Long Lane, Chester; Main Street, Frodsham.
Threshers (6 jobs):
County Road, Ormskirk.
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