Andover Forums - All Woolies Stores To Be Closed

Administrators have confirmed they are to close all 807 Woolworths stores in the UK by January 5 with the loss of 27,000 jobs.

Some 207 are to close on December 27 followed by another 200 on December 30.

A further 200 stores will be shut on January 2 and the remaining 200 on January

Administrators Deloitte say they hope to sell 300 stores to other retailers.

A spokesman said the decision to close the outlets was taken after all attempts to find a buyer for the business failed.

Woolworths 27,000 staff will be retained for a short period after the closures but will then be made redundant.

Some 22,000 are currently employed full-time, the other 5,000 are temporary workers. The first will leave on December 31.

A Woolworths shop worker said earlier he had received an email today saying all stores would close by January 4.

Last week shoppers formed huge queues and stripped shelves at a massive closing-down sale.

Deloitte had already warned that some stores could close before the end of the month if no offers are made.

Woolworths called in administrators three weeks ago as its debts and losses mounted in the worsening retail climate.

Deloitte has held talks with former Woolworths chief executive Sir Geoff Mulcahy and Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis but with no success.

Woolworths biggest shareholder, Ardeshir Naghshineh, had also reportedly put forward a rescue plan involving Mr Paphitis.

The main stumbling block has apparently been the complexity of the group's leases and difficulty in restocking the business after Christmas.

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Blaze159 Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Regular Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 448	Quote Reply Topic: All Woolies Stores To Be Closed Posted: 18 Dec 2008 at 19:14
	I wonder what store will take its place in town? any ideas?

Bugsy3000 Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Enthusiast Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1796	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Dec 2008 at 22:38
	The thing is these days everything you can get in Woolworths you can get in Tesco's. So when your doing a weekly shop and you think oh I must buy a cd or a tin opener you can do it in one go and not waste more petrol and to pay to park in the town centre.

basil Members Profile Find Members Posts Forum Regular Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 358	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Dec 2008 at 22:10
	Administrators have confirmed they are to close all 807 Woolworths stores in the UK by January 5 with the loss of 27,000 jobs. Some 207 are to close on December 27 followed by another 200 on December 30. A further 200 stores will be shut on January 2 and the remaining 200 on January Administrators Deloitte say they hope to sell 300 stores to other retailers. A spokesman said the decision to close the outlets was taken after all attempts to find a buyer for the business failed. Woolworths 27,000 staff will be retained for a short period after the closures but will then be made redundant. Some 22,000 are currently employed full-time, the other 5,000 are temporary workers. The first will leave on December 31. A Woolworths shop worker said earlier he had received an email today saying all stores would close by January 4. Last week shoppers formed huge queues and stripped shelves at a massive closing-down sale. Deloitte had already warned that some stores could close before the end of the month if no offers are made. Woolworths called in administrators three weeks ago as its debts and losses mounted in the worsening retail climate. Deloitte has held talks with former Woolworths chief executive Sir Geoff Mulcahy and Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis but with no success. Woolworths biggest shareholder, Ardeshir Naghshineh, had also reportedly put forward a rescue plan involving Mr Paphitis. The main stumbling block has apparently been the complexity of the group's leases and difficulty in restocking the business after Christmas.