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Pic n' mix to return to Hampshire?

Sweet return for Woolies stores? Sweet return for Woolies stores?

PIC ’n’ mix sweets could stage a return to Hampshire’s high streets after it emerged the former boss of failed retailer Woolworths planned to buy back its vacant stores and create a similar chain.

Tony Page, previously managing director of the Woolworths store chain, is understood to have joined forces with ex-UBS banker Gareth Thomas to raise between £5m and £10m to snap up the old shops, which include branches across the region.

He is planning to launch a variety store that will fill the void left by Woolworths, bringing back the muchloved pic ’n’ mix sweets, toys and everyday items.

The loss of Woolworths was a blow to many small shopping centres across Hampshire and the prospect of its return, along with the footfall it brings, will be a welcome antidote to recession gloom for retailers.

Mr Page is reportedly tapping up wealthy investors and private equity firms this week to garner support for the plans, which could breathe new life into vacant stores in Eastleigh, Ringwood, Romsey, Bitterne, Woolston, Shirley, Gosport, Fareham, Totton and Andover.

Other former Woolworths bosses are also thought to be working with Mr Page, including the store’s commercial director Steve Jebson.

The plan would expand on the successful launch of Wellworths in Dorchester, Dorset, which was opened by former Woolworths manager Claire Robertson as a replacement when her local shop closed down.

It is said to be seeing higher profits now than when it traded as Woolworths.

Hundreds of Woolworths shops have remained empty since the group’s demise.

Plunging sales and mounting debts forced the group into administration late last year just after its 99th birthday.

Some 27,000 jobs were lost.

The brand is also being revived as an online business by Littlewoods Direct owner Shop Direct Group, with woolworths.

co.uk set for a launch this summer.

Comments(7)

sooey says...
2:54pm Tue 26 May 09

Totton is such a dreary town, Woolies was the bright sparkle in the centre, I would be so pleased to see it returned to us, even if under a different name!

simba1 says...
3:10pm Tue 26 May 09

I think you might find woolworths in Romsey will be occupied by co-op

kay08 says...
4:17pm Tue 26 May 09

Also woolies in shirley is now a 99p Store!!

Condor Man says...
4:23pm Tue 26 May 09

The loss of Woolies has left a vacuum in smaller towns. In places like Southampton they had become redundant but added value to shopping in Portswood and Woolston. I hope a shop that sells decent household goods can replace it, rather than tatty Poundland/99p Stores wear.

MangaFace says...
4:29pm Tue 26 May 09

They should turn the one into Southampton Precinct into a pub.

lymmodave says...
5:50pm Tue 26 May 09

The Ringwood store was bought by Iceland and is being convetred into a new Iceland store

Redback says...
9:00pm Tue 26 May 09

"He is planning to launch a variety store that will fill the void left by Woolworths"

If they were filling a 'void', they wouldn't have gone bust. The opposite was true.

If woolies was the 'bright sparkle' in your town, I can recommend a good bulldozer firm.

In the instances Condor Man refers to, I hope independent retailers take up the opportunity. Not every shop has to be a bland chain store.

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