16 jobs to go as new owners shut Kwik Save store

12:51pm Tuesday 28th February 2006

SIXTEEN workers at Colne's Kwik Save in Craddock Road will be made redundant when the store closes on March 29.

The move comes after Somerfield sold the Kwik Save brand and 171 stores across the country to a new company specifically formed to operate Kwik Save, BTTF.

Somerfield sold 77 to other un-named retailers and will retain 102 of the stores.

The Kwik Save store in Briercliffe Road, Burnley will trade under the Kwik Save name until April, and will close for a short period before Christmas for it to be refurbished and converted to a Somerfield.

Kwik Save stores in Boot Way and Cog Lane, Burnley and Leeds Road, Nelson are among those sold to BTTF.

Bosses said all the staff working in the two stores will transfer to the new company.

BTTF said the company would be, in time, refurbishing the stores and looking to stock them with locally-sourced produce.

A Somerfield spokesman said: "The Colne store has been sold to another retailer. The staff will not be transferring to the new retailer.

He said the company was in talks with staff about moving to other Somerfield stores or other employers in the area.

Paul Niklas, managing director of Kwik Save Limited, said: "Today marks a recommitment to the Kwik Save brand and its already strong presence.

"We will, over time be refreshing the store image while maintaining the existing offer of quality branded products at competitive prices, to bring local products direct to the local community."