Another chain close to closure

[BouncingTinsel]

Whittard 'close to administration'

Guess there is no room for posh tea and coffee during the credit crunch.

Actually I must confess that I very occasionally buy coffee and tea from them - I go to the store at the Outlet centre near where I live, they usually have lots of special offers on!

Interesting.....I only ever go to Whittard at the outler centre in Swindon....

The only thing I ever remember buying from Whittard is a set of casserole dishes that were £4 each ... hardly breaking the bank!

But, I guess they are seen as a 'luxury items' shop.

i love their choc covered coffee beans.

I don't think it's just because posh tea and coffee don't sell well in a recession...it's more to do with them being owned by one of those Icelandic groups that went bust or something. Don't quote me on that.

Classic over expansion in a niche market (and competition from Tchibo et al) and yes the Icelandic connection - Baugur - who also own a majority in many high street names.

I spent £70 in whittards this year for xmas pressies for people. I do like Whittards

With ref to coffee and tea not selling well in a recession, there has been a really posh coffee shop open near where I work, and its brimming!! Every time I go past, its full. Not sure what prices are like re Costa or Starbucks, but I was surprised.

And joining them.... Zavvi.

Blimey. 2009 is going to be... interesting.

I find it all a bit scarey.

Just because the banks didn't see what they were doing.

Zavvi are saying it is because of Woolworths which I find a bit odd!
whittards has been purchased and all stores remaining open
Officers club is keeping majority of stores
Zavvi being purchased (some) by HMV

The experts reckon about 15 chains in Jan will announce their difficulties

zavvi I think relied a lot on Woolworths' distribution arm for stock - so they ended up having to cancel a lot of online orders - which must have been rather painful in the run up to Xmas.

They also owed Woolworths millions, which normally wouldn't matter but when Woolies went into liquidation, that debt was called in.

I am not surprised they can't hack it. I have never even set foot in their shops, let alone bought anything. Everything they sell can be easily bought elsewhere.

littletown, I love their coffee beans as well, but have not been able to find them for years the few times I wandered into their shop.

I thought I heard last night that they had a buyer.

I do like whittards.

Yes Fivesets and cheaper

I was always astonished that anyone bought anything there tbh

Whittards owned by the Icelandic Baugur Group, so hardly surprising that they're having probs.

I do like their choc covered coffee beans .

i am really about zavvi... i worked for our price /virgin (which became zavvi) for 6 years after finishing uni...feels like the end of an era for me...

This time next year there will only be £ shops left! And of course food retailers.
This Xmas is going to be paid for by next years Xmas .

With all these shops going I would expect things to start costing a lot more, once the competition is out of the way and all.

Woolworths were demanding cash up front from Zavvi, so Zavvi were unable to get any stock - Woolworths went partly because they were owed so much from Zavvi.

friend went in to zavvi today, aparently they are not accepting gift vouchers as payment, surely this is not right?

I was shocked to see The Pier is in administration. I used to like browsing around in there.

Zavvi are not accepting vouchers
info here

Apparently Zavvi owe £100million+ to Woolworths which contributed to Woolworths problems

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