Helston town centre supermarket Budgens is allegedly earmarked for closure just six months after opening due to "disappointing trading results."

The budget food chain took over from Co-op last July, when the Co-operative Group announced it was selling off some of its stores.

Not only did it mean the town could continue to offer a centrally based supermarket, rather than customers being forced to the larger chains on the outskirts, but the majority of the Co-op staff saw their jobs transferred to the new store, based in the Trengrouse Way car park.

The reprieve, however, appears to be shortlived, after Budgen's parent company The Food Retailer Operations Limited announced it had begun consultations with staff and landlords over the anticipated closure of up to 12 stores "in due course."

A spokesperson told the Packet that the Helston store was among the 12.

In a statement from the company, it states: "Due to disappointing trading results, the board of The Food Retailer Operations Limited has launched a Company Voluntary Arrangement. The principal objective of the proposal is to rationalise the company’s leasehold obligations, restore the viability of the company’s business, improve the balance sheet and return to profitability.

"Subject to consultation with staff and landlord negotiations, it is anticipated that up to 12 stores could close in due course.

"All remaining stores will continue to trade as normal and where possible, staff will be redeployed in order to limit redundancies."

No date has been set for when the proposed closures will begin.