Yorkshire retailer expands with First Quench store deal

YORKSHIRE-BASED retailer R&M Swaine has almost doubled in size after acquiring 34 stores from the collapsed First Quench group which ran the Threshers and Wine Rack chains.

R&M Swaine, which is based in Barnsley, owns the Rhythm & Booze chain, which has off-licences in South and West Yorkshire, and the deal will see it now operate stores in Thirsk, Scarborough, Grimsby, Hull, Sheffield and Lincolnshire.

The firm, now with 76 stores, becomes one of the largest independent off-licence chains in the UK, behind Bargain Booze, which has 600 and Oddbins, which has 130 shops.

R&M Swaine will see its turnover increase to more than £80m following the acquisition of the 34 shops from KPMG, the administrators of First Quench.

It was founded in 1993 by father and son, Ronnie and Martin Swaine.