ANOTHER swathe of off licences owned by First Quench are to close with the loss of 55 jobs in Oxfordshire.
First Quench, which also trades as Wine Rack, The Local, Haddows, Bottoms Up and Victoria Wine, went into administration in October after struggling in the recession.
The latest Oxfordshire closures follow six other county closures announced by administrators KPMG last month, which led to 24 job losses.
The new closures include Wine Rack, George Street, Oxford, which will lead to six redundancies; The Local, Iffley Road, Oxford (nine redundancies); Threshers, St Clement’s Street, Oxford (five); Wine Rack, Summertown (four); Threshers in Burford Road, Carterton (six); Wine Rack, High Street, Chipping Norton (four); The Local, St John’s Road, Wallingford (five); Threshers, Manorsfield Road, Bicester (three); Threshers, London Street, Faringdon (six); Threshers in Peachcroft, Abingdon (three); and The Local, Ock Street, Abingdon (four).
They are among 381 stores to close across the UK, with the loss of 1,908 jobs.
The stores will close by December 16 with stock sales beginning tomorrow.
Head of restructuring and joint administrator Richard Fleming said KPMG was in “advanced talks” over the sale of the business.
Before falling into administration, First Quench originally operated about 1,200 stores with 6,300 staff.
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