CARLSON Worldchoice has lost its agencies in 16 ASDAstores after First Choice doubled what the multiple was paying for the sites.
The locations – 14 in England and two in Scotland, will close by April 8 – leaving 73 full and 43 part-time staff without jobs.
A spokesman said the majority of staff will be found positions elsewhere in the company.
The move by First Choice into ASDAas part of its policy to increase its distribution was exclusively predicted by Travel Weekly on October 28.
First Choice-owned Bakers Dolphin already has two shops within branches of the supermarket chain and ASDA trading director Tony Campbell is a non-executive board director at First Choice.
Carlson criticised ASDA’s move. “We have had a strong relationship going back 12 years with ASDA and are very disappointed to lose the shops,” said Carlson Worldchoice managing director Chris Browne.
“ASDAleft us no alternative but to close the shops as it awarded the concessions to another company before we had a chance to negotiate.”
ASDA said it had given Carlson every opportunity to retain the units.
An ASDAspokesman said: “Another company expressed an interest in the concessions and offered better rates.
“Carlson offered only a nominal increase which was not competitive.”
First Choice confirmed it has taken the concessions but declined to comment further.