TWO supermarkets have closed down with the loss of 68 jobs.

The owner of the Nisa branded stores in Lydney and Coleford went into administration on April 6, and the remaining 51 staff who had been kept on for a stock clearance have now been told they are being made redundant.

Store worker Jane Butler, who had worked at the Lydney store for 24 years, has spoken of her heartbreak at finally having to leave the site, having worked there for Kwik Save, Somerfield, Harry Tuffins and then Nisa.

The 45-year-old mum-of-one, said: “It’s not just the job, it was like a family there. We knew closure was likely, but it’s still a shock to finally be told the store is shutting for good.

“On Monday (April 24) we were called to the front by the manager just before 1pm and told ‘that’s it, we’re closing now’.

“We knew it was going to happen, but it was still very sad to hear the shutters were coming down. Most of my working life has been here, and we were all friends on the staff.

“When the deliveries first stopped we feared the business had a cash flow problem, but the administration letter at the start of the month was still a bolt from the blue. I was absolutely gutted when we received that. A lot of us were crying, but there are no tears left to cry now.

“We’d hoped another store might come in, but it was still a shock to be told on Monday that we were shutting immediately.

“We just had to say our goodbyes and go our separate ways, although we’ll be meeting up for a farewell drink later this week.

“All of us were a real family there and it’s sad to break up like this. I’d like to say thanks to all my colleagues and wish them the best of luck.”

She added that they had been told they would receive outstanding wages and can claim redundancy pay.

“It’s been a very stressful time, but I’ve applied for a few store jobs and hopefully something will come up.”

The Nisa-brand outlets were owned by Ledbury-based County Stores. Forty five jobs have been lost at the Lydney store, and 23 at the Coleford store, which closed on Saturday (April 21).

The business owned another five stores in Ledbury, Presteigne, Oxford, Witney and Eynsham trading under the SPAR name which have all been sold as going concerns, but no buyers could be found for the Forest outlets.

BDO LLP joint administrator Simon Girling said: “The joint administrators can confirm that, without any going concern interest in the stores, and following a stock clearance sale, the County Stores-owned NISA shops in Lydney and Coleford have now closed. Regrettably, all remaining staff have been made redundant as a result.”