Off-licences to be sold

Nov 30 2009 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

TWO of the remaining three Teesside stores being handled by administrators for off-licence group First Quench are to be sold.

Outlets in Billingham and Hartlepool, trading under The Local brand, will go as part of another series of closures.

Administrator KPMG said they would be among a further 391 stores that would cease trading with the loss of 2,140 jobs, although it remained hopeful that some would be sold as going concerns.

The future of the former First Quench store trading under the Wine Rack brand in Stokesley remains unclear after Venus Wine & Spirit Merchants bought 13 of the best-performing outlets - all in London and the South-east.

First Quench operated around 1,200 stores and employed some 6,300 staff. Now just over 100 stores remain open for business. KPMG said economic conditions made it difficult to complete deals.

The news comes days after book chain Borders - which has an outlet at Teesside Park - went into administration. The chain began a clearance sale this week.