McColl’s forced to stop selling alcohol and lotto tickets in Morrisons takeover – with NO date for products to return

CORNERSHOP chain McColl’s has confirmed that it’s been forced to stop selling alcohol and lotto tickets amid a takeover by Morrisons.  

The struggling convenience store apologised to customers after the products were removed due to licencing issues.    

Images shared by showed how black barriers had been erected over all alcohol, PayPoints and Lotto tickets across McColls stores.

Customer notices were put up on display explaining why the chain had been forced to remove the items.

One notice in a Essex store read: "Unfortunately we are required by law to temporarily suspend all alcohol sales. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

“We look forward to serving you as soon as we can."

Signs erected on the Lotto ticket section also read: "Lotto services are currently unavailable. Apologies for any inconvenience caused."

Morrisons confirmed the suspension is currently affecting all stores but were unable to say when the products would return.

A spokesperson from Morrisons said: "With regard to the sale of alcohol, it is something impacting all stores and we are working at pace to apply for all the correct licenses."

Morrisons announced they would be buying out the company on Monday after the struggling supermarket chain announced its administration last week.  

The news came as welcome relief to McColl’s 16,000 employees who had been facing redundancy.

Under the deal, it's reported that staff will keep their jobs and all 1,100 shops will be saved.

On Friday evening it had looked as if the EG Group were poised to win the battle after McColl's lenders rejected a bid from Morrisons.

The lenders, which include Barclays, HSBC and state-backed NatWest Group, were seeking immediate repayment of their loans, leading them to favour EG Group.

McColl's has struggled badly during the pandemic due to supply chain issues, inflation and a heavy debt burden.

Last week, it was revealed the group was set to have its shares suspended from the London Stock Exchange as bosses said they would be unable to get its accounts signed off by auditors in time.

Shares in the company had already plunged as it reported last month that talks with its lenders and banks would likely leave shareholders empty-handed under rescue efforts.

McColl's had previously announced it was going into administration, appointing PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) as administrators.

Reports suggested that McColl's had notched up £170million of debt.