SEP Properties, which has bought the rights to the Threshers, Victoria Wine, The Local and Bottom's Up names, has become a member of Nisa-Today's, The Grocer can reveal.
SEP, which runs four Dave's Discount Stores in the West Midlands, bought 22 stores formerly run by First Quench Retailing from administrator KPMG.
Engrez Sanghera, a solicitor for the company, confirmed that SEP had become a Nisa member, although he said it was too early to talk about its plans for the brand names the company has bought.
It is understood that SEP aims to relaunch Threshers as an online wine merchant and trade its stores under one of its other brands either Victoria Wine or Bottom's Up while the remaining fascia could be turned into a franchise similar to the model run by Bargain Booze.
"This is a smart move for SEP as they will be able to get better prices, promotions, leaflets and deliveries through Nisa," said one Nisa member.
Nisa's alcohol sales have shown strong growth in recent months its BWS sales were up 32% in December compared with the previous year, helped by some of its members expanding their store estate.
Meanwhile, former Threshers franchisees have suffered a setback in their attempts to form their own buying group. Franchisee Anthony Bailey has been forced to step down from his unofficial position as organiser of the buying group after a legal row with his landlord. Independent retailer Paul Dawkins, MD of Heaton Wines in Romsey, has now stepped in to try to organise the buying group.
SEP, which runs four Dave's Discount Stores in the West Midlands, bought 22 stores formerly run by First Quench Retailing from administrator KPMG.
Engrez Sanghera, a solicitor for the company, confirmed that SEP had become a Nisa member, although he said it was too early to talk about its plans for the brand names the company has bought.
It is understood that SEP aims to relaunch Threshers as an online wine merchant and trade its stores under one of its other brands either Victoria Wine or Bottom's Up while the remaining fascia could be turned into a franchise similar to the model run by Bargain Booze.
"This is a smart move for SEP as they will be able to get better prices, promotions, leaflets and deliveries through Nisa," said one Nisa member.
Nisa's alcohol sales have shown strong growth in recent months its BWS sales were up 32% in December compared with the previous year, helped by some of its members expanding their store estate.
Meanwhile, former Threshers franchisees have suffered a setback in their attempts to form their own buying group. Franchisee Anthony Bailey has been forced to step down from his unofficial position as organiser of the buying group after a legal row with his landlord. Independent retailer Paul Dawkins, MD of Heaton Wines in Romsey, has now stepped in to try to organise the buying group.
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