UK off-licence chain to axe 2,000 jobs

Administrators of Threshers’ owner First Quench today announced the loss of more than 2,000 jobs following another raft of store closures.

First Quench – which also trades as Wine Rack, The Local, Haddows, Bottoms Up and Victoria Wine – fell into administration in October after struggling amid the recession.

KPMG said 391 stores would close with the loss of 2,140 jobs, although it remained hopeful that some of the outlets would be sold as going concerns before the closure process was completed.

The stores are due to close by December 20, depending on stock levels.