Barclay brothers buy Woolworths, but it will trade online only

Monday 2nd February 2009, 2:30PM GMT.

Woolworths is to return – but as an online-only store.

THE Barclay brothers have bought Woolworths.

Brecqhou residents Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay have announced they plan to relaunch the high-street giant online, but it is thought that only a few of the 30,000 staff will get their jobs back.

Speaking on the BBC this morning, the chief executive of Shop Direct, the Barclay brothers’ online shopping group, Mark Newton-Jones, said they had prevented the loss of a retail icon.

‘We are very proud to be bringing it back. The intention is to have it online and launched for the summer,’ he said.

‘It would have been a tragedy for the name to disappear, an iconic name in British retail. We are delighted to be bringing it back.’

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View more: Sir David And Sir Frederick Barclay news.

1
Ade

February 4, 2009 at 11:50 am

Why a tragedy? surely, more of tragedy will result in a poorly placed comeback ‘online’ of one of Britain’s most famous high street stores.. Just let it sleep fondly in our history!

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2
Adele

February 5, 2009 at 7:02 pm

Well done to the Barclay brothers.

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