Bibby swallows ailing off licence chain

BIBBY LIne Group, the Liverpool-based shipping to shopping group, has boosted its retail business with an acquisition which has saved more than 400 jobs.

Bibby Retail Services has bought Rhythm & Booze, a Yorkshire-based off licence chain out of administration.

BRS, the retail division of Bibby Line Group, which also owns Costcutter Supermarkets, is looking to grow the wholesale arms of Rhythm & Booze and convert some of its 68 sites into convenience stores.

Rhythm & Booze was founded in Barnsley by the late Ronnie Swaine and his son, Martin, in 1993 as an extension to the family’s supermarket business, under which they operated as Costcutter members.

The pair decided to focus on the off licence format and grew the number of sites the business operated.

Commenting on the deal, Nick Ivel, director of Bibby Retail Services and chief executive of York-based Costcutter, said: “Rhythm & Booze is a very well respected business and one that we have long admired.

“Under the stewardship of Bibby Retail Services we are confident that we can quickly re-establish its prominence and implement a robust business strategy that will lead to longer-term growth and expansion.

“We are committed to expanding our portfolio of company owned stores and this is an important deal that adds a significant number of new sites to the group.”  

The deal has seen Bibby Retail Services buying all 68 stores from administrators Ernst & Young with 425  employees transferring with the business.

Mr Ivel added: “”This deal has secured 425 jobs and also ensures that the Rhythm & Booze brand survives, which is excellent news for suppliers and customers.”

Rhythm & Booze has stores across Yorkshire and the Humber, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.