Premier Foreways, an independently owned chain of five corner shops in Carlisle, is set to close all of its stores after nearly 40 years in business. The retailer announced the closures after entering liquidation, with Armstrong Watson appointed as liquidator.
Stores to close across Carlisle
The shops, which operated under the Premier brand but are independently owned, are located on Wigton Road, Bedford Road, Blackwell Road, Newlaithes Avenue, and Warwick Road. They had been a staple of the community for nearly four decades.
Residents described the closures as a 'shame'. One local posted on Facebook: “They’ve been there so long. Hope the staff find something else.” Others noted that the shelves had been 'empty a while', with some saying they thought the stores 'were doing okay'.
Owner praised by community
The shops were owned by Billy Bone, who has been praised on social media by many former employees. One posted: "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 said the decision to enter liquidation was a difficult one, as they were the first Premier stores in Carlisle.
Liquidator confirms appointment
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.
Premier is a convenience store brand owned by Tesco with more than 4,000 shops across the UK. A majority of the stores across the nation carry the Premier signage but are also independently owned. The next steps for the stores are currently unclear.
