A total of 331 Norbert Dentressangle (ND) employees are set to transfer to First Quench Retailing (FQR) following the drinks supplier's decision to take its logistics operation back in-house.
FQR has confirmed that it is terminating its transportation and warehousing contract with ND from September. The contract began in March last year.
An ND spokeswoman
says: "The contract, which is based at our site in Dunstable, employs 331 people across the warehousing and transport operations. We believe the warehousing operation will be taken in-house and the transport transferred to a third-party provider. TUPE transfer regulations will therefore apply."
FQR says it has taken the decision to bring its warehouse operations in-house, managing it as part of central operations. A spokeswoman adds: "This is part of the turnaround programme, and will enable the business to further hone and develop a bespoke and highly flexible function."
The company, which operates 1,400 Threshers, The Local and Wine Rack stores, says it is working closely with ND on the exit management plan of the 331 affected staff.
FQR recently issued a "going concern" warning, citing a "material uncertainty" that cast significant doubt on its ability to continue trading, according to accounts filed at Companies
House earlier this month.
For the period from 16 May 2007 to 28 June 2008, the group made a pre-tax loss of £30m.
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