Woolworths and Zavvi set to vanish

Hot on the heels of December’s announcement that High Street name Woolworths is set to vanish from Southend and Leigh’s high streets in January, it has s today been announced that Zavvi, situated at Southend’s Victoria Shopping Centre, has also gone into receivership.

Woolworths has been trading in the UK for nearly 100 years, and its departure from the High Street marks a sad day in Southend’s retail history. The news leaves around 75 Woolworths Southend employees looking for work.

Zavvi’s days too are numbered. Zavvi was a management buy-out of the Virgin Megastore brand, and it seems their shut-down is also largely down to the Woolworths closure, as much of Zavvi’s stock was sourced from Woolworth’s supplier.

You have to wonder what other big High Street names could be next to fall, and what our High Street may look like a year from now.

Woolworths Closing Down Sale, Southend (December 2008)