Thresher faces headache after voucher frenzy

By Sally Pook
Daily Telegraph.
An off-licence chain was bracing itself yesterday for an unprecedented rush at its shops after an online discount voucher was downloaded by millions of bargain-hunters.

The Thresher Group fears pre-Christmas profits could be affected after the 40 per cent discount offer, intended only for suppliers and their friends, was widely distributed via email.

One wine company reported 800,000 downloads, while at one point the Thresher Group website crashed under the strain.

The discount voucher applies to wine and champagne purchases at 2,500 stores including Threshers, Wine Rack, Bottoms Up, Haddows and The Local chains. It is valid from Nov 30 to Dec 10 and is limited to a maximum £500 expenditure.

"The initial email was to our suppliers and we did say it could be sent to friends and family," said a spokesman, Dirk Kind. "We knew that was a bit of a grey area but it has just absolutely snowballed way beyond anything we anticipated."

Unfortunately the voucher in pdf format has now been removed from the web site )c:=