The five Premier Foreways stores in Cumbria are set to close after the company entered liquidation
A British corner shop chain has announced it will be closing all of its UK stores after 40 years since opening.
Premier Foreways – a sub-chain of the Premier stores – announced all of its UK stores will be closing after the company collapsed into liquidation.
There are five shops in Carlisle, Cumbria, which are set to close for good, as Armstrong Watson has been appointed as liquidator.
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The Premier Foreways stores traded under the Premier brand but remained independently owned throughout their operation.
Each outlet has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the local community, having served residents for nearly forty years, reports the Express.
Locals described the closures of the Wigton Road, Bedford Road, Blackwell Road, Newlaithes Avenue, and Warwick Road stores as a ‘shame’.
One resident posted on Facebook: “They’ve been there so long. Hope the staff find something else.”
The mini-chain was owned by Billy Bone, who has received widespread praise on social media from former members of staff and loyal customers alike.
One former employee said: “Good employers like this are few and far between, and I know many of the staff who have worked for them over the years will wholeheartedly agree. They will be sorely missed in the community.”
Mr Bone, who launched the first Premier stores in Carlisle, described the decision to enter liquidation as a difficult one.
A spokesperson for Armstrong Watson said: “We can confirm that Armstrong Watson has been instructed by the directors to assist them in placing the company into liquidation,” reports the News and Star.
The Premier brand operates more than 4,000 shops across the UK, the vast majority of which carry the Premier signage but are also independently owned. It remains uncertain what the future holds for the stores.
Full list of Premier Foreways stores to close
- Premier Foreways, 69 Wigton Road, CA2 7AY
- Premier Foreways, 16 Bedford Road, CA2 5QE
- Premier Foreways, 309 Blackwell Road, CA2 4RS
- Premier Foreways, 123 Newlaithes Avenue, CA2 6PP
- Premier Foreways, 264 Warwick Road, CA1 2BX
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