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90% of ex-Woolworths stores still empty

More than 90% of the Woolworths shops in the North East which closed when the firm collapsed are empty more than six months later, new research has found.

A study by the Local Data Company found 28 of the 31 shops closed in the North East remain closed.

Nationally, seven out of 10 former Woolworths stores are empty, with 560 of 807 still not taken over by other retailers - 69% of the portfolio.

Some 80% of the 82 stores closed in Scotland are boarded up but more than half the stores in Greater London are occupied.

Of the 247 stores that have been sold to new operators, the research shows many former Woolworths sites are now discount stores and pound shops.

Administrators Deloitte have struck a number of deals to sell on Woolworths stores, with the largest being the sale of around 50 stores to frozen food giant Iceland in January.

Even with deals such as the Iceland bulk buy, Deloitte still has 387 stores left to offload.

The new research from the Local Data Company analysed every former Woolworths shop and showed that just 31% are now occupied by other retailers.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .