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Woolworths stores set for closure Woolworths stores set for closure
(20 minutes later)
Administrators at Woolworths say that all 807 stores will close by 5 January.Administrators at Woolworths say that all 807 stores will close by 5 January.
The first stores will close on December 27 and all 27,000 permanent and temporary staff will lose their jobs. The first stores will close on 27 December and all 27,000 permanent and temporary staff will lose their jobs if no last-minute buyer is found.
Neville Kahn said the administrators were still in discussions with a number of parties over Woolworths' retail and wholesale business. The administrators said there was still interest in parts of the business but admitted they had "not come close" to finding a buyer for the firm.
He said 300 stores were under offer from a range of food, clothes and value retailers, who would take over the sites for their own business. A range of food, clothes and "value retailers" have made offers to take over the leases at about 300 stores.
And efforts would be made to put Woolworths staff who were losing their jobs in contact with these potential employers, the administrators Deloitte said.
Countdown
Last week bargain hunters began flocking to branches of Woolworths on the first day of a store closure sale at all its outlets across the country.Last week bargain hunters began flocking to branches of Woolworths on the first day of a store closure sale at all its outlets across the country.
Deloitte's Neville Kahn said that an extra 50 million items would be delivered to Woolworths stores and bigger discounts - some of more than 60% - would be offered to shift stock.
Shop windows will also display a countdown showing how much time is left before the store will close, he added.
Staff will be retained for a few days following store closures.
The chain was forced to call in administrators three weeks ago, amid mounting debts and losses.The chain was forced to call in administrators three weeks ago, amid mounting debts and losses.
Last week its distribution arm, Entertainment UK, made 700 staff redundant after failing to find a buyer for the business.Last week its distribution arm, Entertainment UK, made 700 staff redundant after failing to find a buyer for the business.
The company delivered up to 30% of music CDs in the UK, as well as film and TV DVDs.The company delivered up to 30% of music CDs in the UK, as well as film and TV DVDs.