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Woolworths arm slashes 700 jobs | Woolworths arm slashes 700 jobs |
(21 minutes later) | |
Administrators at Entertainment UK, Woolworths' distribution arm, have made 700 staff redundant after failing to find a buyer for the business. | Administrators at Entertainment UK, Woolworths' distribution arm, have made 700 staff redundant after failing to find a buyer for the business. |
The job cuts will affect staff at the "company's head office and distribution centres in Middlesex", administrators Deloitte said in a statement. | |
They said moves to sell the business as a going concern were being scaled down. | They said moves to sell the business as a going concern were being scaled down. |
Woolworths, along with Entertainment UK (EUK) and other subsidiaries, went into administration on 27 November. | |
Entertainment UK will continue its wholesale distribution operations with a reduced workforce of 375 employees. | Entertainment UK will continue its wholesale distribution operations with a reduced workforce of 375 employees. |
Major distributor | |
The company delivered up to 30% of music CDs in the UK, as well as film and TV DVDs. | |
When it stopped deliveries to stores, record labels and shops were forced to take action to ensure new albums by Take That and Britney Spears reached their shelves. | When it stopped deliveries to stores, record labels and shops were forced to take action to ensure new albums by Take That and Britney Spears reached their shelves. |
Its customers included retailers Zavvi, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and WH Smith, as well as supplying Woolworths. | |
"Whilst we will continue to consider offers for the sale of the business as a going concern, we will now focus on realising value from the company's assets," said Dan Butters, joint administrator partner at Deloitte. | |
The administrators added that another Woolworths subsidiary, Bertrams Books, would continue to trade as usual. | |
Bertram Books is a a fully owned subsidiary of Entertainment UK, and 2Entertain, a joint venture between EUK and BBC Worldwide. |