Fears are growing for the future of Woolworths and its 30,000 staff after reports that administrator Deloitte has failed to find a buyer for the firm.
Woolworths is to hold a store closure sale in all its 815 outlets from Thursday amid growing concern that a buyer will not be found for the firm.
The BBC understands that Deloitte is due to announce a closing-down sale across all the company's 815 stores.
Administrator Deloitte said talks were continuing to try and find a buyer.
Woolworths went into administration on 26 November after it buckled under the weight of £385m of debt.
While Deloitte said it was too early to talk about redundancies, it is increasingly likely that all 30,000 Woolworths staff will lose their jobs.
Since that time, Deloitte has spoken to a number of parties about the hope of selling the firm as a going concern.
However, talks are continuing over the sale of store leases, with a number of other retailers said to be interested.
However, it now increasingly seems that these talks have failed to find a buyer.
Store sale talks
Last week, Deloitte cut 450 jobs and launched extensive discounts, which it insisted was not a closing-down move.
The administrator has also held talks to sell off a number of store leases to rival retailers, which are said to be continuing.
It is thought that Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, the Co-op and discount chain Poundland are still interested in picking up some of the retailer's prime stores.
It is thought that Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, the Co-op and discount chain Poundland are still interested in picking up some of the retailer's prime stores.
Woolworth's music, DVD and games distribution subsidiary, Entertainment UK, is also in administration.
Woolworths went into administration on 26 November with £385m of debt.
The firm's music, DVD and games distribution subsidiary, Entertainment UK, is also in administration.
Last week, rival retailer Zavvi, which is a customer of Entertainment UK, said the situation was causing shortages of certain products in its stores.
Last week, rival retailer Zavvi, which is a customer of Entertainment UK, said the situation was causing shortages of certain products in its stores.
Media publishing business 2Entertain, in which Woolworths owns a 40% stake is not in administration. The other 60% of this business is owned by BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial division.
Media publishing business 2Entertain, in which Woolworths owns a 40% stake is not in administration. The other 60% of this business is owned by BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial division.
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