Threshers owner closing 373 shops

First Quench has struggled in the recession

A total of 373 stores are to close at off licence group First Quench, with the loss of 1,738 jobs, the firm's administrators KPMG have announced.

KPMG said the closures will affect all six of the firm's brands - Threshers, Wine Rack, The Local, Haddows, Bottoms Up and Victoria Wine.

First Quench went into administration last month, after it struggled with a fall in sales during the recession.

KPMG hopes to sell most of the business as a going concern.

First Quench has 1,300 stores in total, with 6,500 employees.

KPMG had already announced 81 redundancies at the firm's head office in Welwyn Garden City.