Convenience store chain McColl’s – which has a store in Kirkby Stephen – has collapsed, putting thousands of jobs at risk.
The company, which operates several stores across Cumbria, is set to call in administrators on Monday – but there is hope it will be rescued by the brothers who co-own supermarket Asda.
Morrisons proposed a rescue deal on Thursday, but in a statement McColl’s said its lenders said its proposal would not be acceptable.
McColl’s said: “In order to protect creditors, preserve the future of the business and to protect the interests of employees, the board was regrettably therefore left with no choice other than to place the company in administration.”
McColl’s did not benefit from the boom in local shopping during the pandemic and has around £170 million-worth of debt.
The chain also has convenience stores in Workington, Whitehaven, Distington, Egremont, Carlisle, Ulverston, Milnthorpe and Dalton-in-Furness.
