Jobs axed when an off-licence chain went into administration have been saved by a rival firm.

Unwins, which had 38 stores in 16 locations in Sussex, ran into trouble in December. Around 100 staff in the county were made redundant.

The Thresher Group, a former Unwins rival, has bought 22 of the 38 shops and said all jobs at those stores are safe.

Rachel Morgan, from administrators KPMG, said: "The takeover has gone through quite quickly and staff at the stores which have been bought will remain employed."

Susan Gates, of the Thresher Group, confirmed there were no plans to buy any of the other 16 Unwins in Sussex and said staff from shops which remain closed will not be re-employed.

Thresher has bought Unwins stores in Lewes, Brighton, Worthing, Peacehaven, Telscombe Cliffs, Haywards Heath, Shoreham, Crowborough, Hove, Forest Row, Barnham, East Wittering, Singleton and Hangleton.

Five of the 11 Unwins shops in Brighton, two of the six in Hove and one of the three stores in Worthing have been bought.

Others in Eastbourne, St Leonards, Seaford, Hassocks, Bognor, Steyning and Horsham remain closed and the premises are likely to be sold to other companies.

Mrs Morgan said: "When Unwins closed in December the business was on its knees so it is lucky that many of the jobs have been saved."

Unwins went into administration after suffering increased competition from supermarket chains able to offer cheaper prices.

Offers on cheap beers, wines and spirits and bulk buying meant Unwins was often being beaten on prices and shoppers found supermarkets more convenient, KPMG said.

Unwins shareholders claimed there was a £13.2 million "black hole" in the company's finances after months of below par trading.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006