100 lose job as Sussex off-licences close (From The Argus)

100 lose job as Sussex off-licences close

3:00pm Saturday 7th November 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(6)

More than 100 people have lost their job after administrators closed a series of off-licences across Sussex.

Administrators KPMG announced yesterday that branches of First Quench owned Threshers, Wine Rack and The Local, would be shut down.

In Sussex 25 stores out of 70 will close with the loss of 100 jobs out of a total 335 staff.

First Quench Retailing was placed into administration at the end of last month and 81 staff at the firm’s Hertfordshire headquarters were immediately laid off.

Richard Fleming, head of restructuring at KPMG, said:“Unfortunately, after reviewing the viability of the store network, 373 loss-making stores are to be closed.

“Depending on stock levels, 247 of the stores will continue to trade until November 25, with 126 trading until December 2.

“The remaining stores will continue to be traded as usual while we seek a buyer. So far, we have received considerable interest in the business from a range of buyers, including trade, individual investors and private equity.”

In Sussex 16 stores will close in 18 days' time while nine will have a stay of execution until December 2.

All the stores marked for closure are a mixture of Wine Racks, The Locals, and Threshers.

They include branches in Brighton and Hove, Littlehampton, Burgess Hill and St Leonards.