Metropol

james2001 wrote: Wed 12 Apr, 2017 21.39 During the brief period that one in Nottingham was a co-op, there was already another co-op down the road a matter of a few shops away, no wonder it didn't last long.

Would you believe it was a Co-op longer than it was a Somerfield. Time, eh?

Charlie Wells wrote: Thu 13 Apr, 2017 09.19

Whataday wrote: Wed 12 Apr, 2017 16.45

Charlie Wells wrote: Thu 16 Feb, 2017 11.01In short the stores affected are the ones which were originally Somerfields stores before the Co-Operative brought them out, and then sold them on to Budgens.

I wonder how many of those were originally Kwik Save stores. I can think of a few that made the conversion to Somerfield and then Co-Operative but didn't make it go Budgens.

From memory ours was a Gateways store when I was very young.

Makes sense. Gateway and Somerfield are one and the same, that was a rebranding.

JAS84 wrote: Fri 14 Apr, 2017 07.49

Charlie Wells wrote: Thu 13 Apr, 2017 09.19

Whataday wrote: Wed 12 Apr, 2017 16.45

I wonder how many of those were originally Kwik Save stores. I can think of a few that made the conversion to Somerfield and then Co-Operative but didn't make it go Budgens.

From memory ours was a Gateways store when I was very young.

Makes sense. Gateway and Somerfield are one and the same, that was a rebranding.

Not exactly - Gateway conceived Somerfield as a fascia for smaller stores, it wasn't intended to replace Gateway outright. I don't think it was until after the Kwik Save acquisition that they standardised fully on their Somerfield and Kwik Save fascias.

They also had the Food Giant brand for their larger stores (which seemed absolutely huge at the time although probably would be average by today's standards) - they were all rebranded as Kwik Save very quickly after that brand had been acquired - even though they were very different beasts to legacy Kwik Save stores.

Charlie Wells wrote: Thu 13 Apr, 2017 09.19

Whataday wrote: Wed 12 Apr, 2017 16.45

Charlie Wells wrote: Thu 16 Feb, 2017 11.01In short the stores affected are the ones which were originally Somerfields stores before the Co-Operative brought them out, and then sold them on to Budgens.

I wonder how many of those were originally Kwik Save stores. I can think of a few that made the conversion to Somerfield and then Co-Operative but didn't make it go Budgens.

From memory ours was a Gateways store when I was very young.

The supermarket along the road from where I grew up in central Scotland went (from what I'm told) Coopers -> Fine Fare - > Gateway -> Somerfield and was then demolished and is now a Lidl.

Daily Star says that Woolworths may be coming back:
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest- ... s-discount

adamcobb55 wrote: Tue 18 Apr, 2017 07.18

Charlie Wells wrote: Thu 13 Apr, 2017 09.19

Whataday wrote: Wed 12 Apr, 2017 16.45 I wonder how many of those were originally Kwik Save stores. I can think of a few that made the conversion to Somerfield and then Co-Operative but didn't make it go Budgens.

From memory ours was a Gateways store when I was very young.

The supermarket along the road from where I grew up in central Scotland went (from what I'm told) Coopers -> Fine Fare - > Gateway -> Somerfield and was then demolished and is now a Lidl.

Nice piece about how that all happened here: http://web.archive.org/web/201011030352 ... d-History/

Gateway sold of alot of its bigger stores to Asda, during the late 80s which caused some confused people.

JAS84 wrote: Sun 23 Apr, 2017 03.16 Daily Star says that Woolworths may be coming back:
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest- ... s-discount

Nice idea but it wont happen, unless its very small scale in selective areas. Remember Alworths?

And Wellworths/Wellchester. Woolies went out of business for a reason.

I don't get the Woolworths love (not that I think there's that much of it). I saw comments on an article about it's rumoured return which were mainly along the lines of "ahhh I miss woolies pick n mix", as if sweets aren't available anywhere else.

Wilko seem to be doing fine though, and they've expanded massively in to lines which were Woolworths' stronger points (like confectionery).

I don't see the point in Woolies coming back. What they did sell was overpriced and could be purchased cheaper elsewhere.

As mentioned Wilko has cornered part of Woolies market with household and pick 'n' mix products, while Poundland has the budget end.

Martin Phillp wrote: Tue 25 Apr, 2017 16.22 I don't see the point in Woolies coming back. What they did sell was overpriced and could be purchased cheaper elsewhere.

As mentioned Wilko has cornered part of Woolies market with household and pick 'n' mix products, while Poundland has the budget end.

And every other damn shop on the high street. It would just be a B&M / Home Bargains mk2.