Woolworths To Return To High Street?

It appears the body is still warm. Woolworths’ owners want to revive the brand's place on the high street.

After entering administration last year, Woolworths is ready for a return to brick and mortar operations. Bought by brothers Sir Frederick and Sir David Barclay of Shop Direct, the owners believe the store can now extend beyond its online-only offerings. Of course, they are hoping someone else will do the grunt work, and are looking for franchisees.

When the high-street chain closed in January it left empty 800 locations; Shop Direct believes that the brand can now command 200 locations. Nearly all of the former Woolworths locations have been bought up, replaced by discount imitators Wellworths and Alworths.  

Woolworths stands to overshadow their imitators should the brand return to stores. But according to the Times of Londons, it may feel the pinch from the likes of Tesco and Sainsburys, after Woolworths' closure led supermarkets to “expand their non-food ranges.”