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Administration plan for Kwik Save Administration plan for Kwik Save
(about 3 hours later)
Supermarket chain Kwik Save is expected to go into administration at noon BST. Supermarket chain Kwik Save is expected to go into administration on Friday.
The company, which used to be owned by Somerfield, will close 90 stores, with another 56 being rebranded as Fresh Express stores.The company, which used to be owned by Somerfield, will close 90 stores, with another 56 being rebranded as Fresh Express stores.
Staff at the 56 rebranded stores should receive their back pay next week, but the 1,100 made redundant are unlikely to be paid by the administrators.Staff at the 56 rebranded stores should receive their back pay next week, but the 1,100 made redundant are unlikely to be paid by the administrators.
Many staff worked unpaid for the last six weeks in the hope that the chain could be saved from administration.Many staff worked unpaid for the last six weeks in the hope that the chain could be saved from administration.
Kwik Save had already closed 81 of its branches as it struggled to compete with low-cost rivals such as Aldi and Lidl and its market share fell to 0.2%.Kwik Save had already closed 81 of its branches as it struggled to compete with low-cost rivals such as Aldi and Lidl and its market share fell to 0.2%.
Kwik Save's falling market shareKwik Save's falling market share
Shop workers' union Usdaw said that staff in stores earmarked for closure would be "devastated" by the news.Shop workers' union Usdaw said that staff in stores earmarked for closure would be "devastated" by the news.
"Our members will be feeling totally let down by Kwik Save," Joanne McGuinness, the union's national officer said."Our members will be feeling totally let down by Kwik Save," Joanne McGuinness, the union's national officer said.
"They have shown incredible strength and resilience in trying to keep the company alive and have had to rely on handouts from relatives. Some have faced losing their homes.""They have shown incredible strength and resilience in trying to keep the company alive and have had to rely on handouts from relatives. Some have faced losing their homes."
Redundant staff will probably have to apply to the government to receive some of the money they are owed, although they would probably only be able to claim up to £240 a week.Redundant staff will probably have to apply to the government to receive some of the money they are owed, although they would probably only be able to claim up to £240 a week.
The future of Kwik Save has been uncertain since it was sold by Somerfield group to BTTF 12 weeks ago.The future of Kwik Save has been uncertain since it was sold by Somerfield group to BTTF 12 weeks ago.
In the 12 weeks to 20 May, Kwik Save had just a 0.2% share of the UK supermarket spend, according to TNS Worldpanel, against 0.8% in the same period a year before.In the 12 weeks to 20 May, Kwik Save had just a 0.2% share of the UK supermarket spend, according to TNS Worldpanel, against 0.8% in the same period a year before.


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Are you employed by Kwik Save? Do you shop there? How does this news affect you? Send us your comments using the form below:Are you employed by Kwik Save? Do you shop there? How does this news affect you? Send us your comments using the form below:
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