Big W (UK Chain)

Big W was a large format chain of megastores owned by the Kingfisher Group (later Woolworths Group PLC). This chain was composed of Kingfisher's brands, which were Comet, B&Q, Superdrug and Woolworths in one large shop. In 2000, Peacocks and British Food Group teamed up with Kingfisher to create Clothing and Food brands for Big W. However, Only 7 of the stores supplied food. There were 21 stores in the chain. In 2002, after Kingfisher sold off Woolworths, the stores added Woolworths in their names, becoming "Woolworths Big W" and sold only Woolworths products, Newly opened stores since 2002 already had the Woolworths name in the Big W Logo. Woolworths discontinued the chain around early 2004 and at the same time, they sold off the 7 stores that had permission to sell food to Asda and Tesco; the remaining 14 became regular Woolworths Stores or were downsized, meaning that some Woolworths in Retail Parks shared half of the store with another retailer. Peacocks also shared half of these stores with Woolworths. They remained until the 2008 administration and most of the stores now house The Range.

About

Much Like Woolco, Big W stores were found on Retail Parks around the UK and supplied goods from the 4 main Kingfisher brands. When the stores became Woolworths Big W, they supplied only Woolworths products. These remained the same when the stores became regular Woolworths Stores. Peacocks (who supplied Big W's Clothing Brand) shared half of the Out-of-Town stores with Woolworths. Some stores later introduced Woolworths Clearance Outlets at the back of the stores.

Stores

• Edinburgh, Opened 1999 and re-branded as Woolworths & Peacocks with a Burger King in 2005. Remained abandoned for years until reopening as The Range in 2013.
• Glasgow, Opened 1999 and re-branded as Woolworths & Peacocks in 2005, Reopened as Tesco Extra in 2011
• Bristol, Opened 2000, down-sized and re-branded as Woolworths & Peacocks and TJ Hughes in 2005. Demolished in 2013 after staying abandoned for many years and was replaced with an Asda.
• Bradford, Opened 2000, Became Woolworths & Peacocks in 2005. Reopened as The Range in 2010.
• Tamworth, Opened 2000, Downsized and became a Woolworths and M&S store in 2005. Closed in April 2008 with M&S taking over the other half.
• Heartcliffe, Opened ???? and re-branded as Woolworths & Peacocks in 2005. Reopened as What Stores in 2009.
• Loughbrough, Opened 2002 and re-branded as Woolworths in 2005 The store reopened as Tesco Extra in 2010.
• Newport, Opened 2002 and re-branded as Woolworths and a TJ Hughes in 2005. The Woolworths side is trading as The Range with a new entrance, the TJ Hughes side closed in 2011 when TJ Hughes went into administration and remains empty and available for let.
• Beckton, Opened ???? and Became Woolworths and Peacocks in 2005. Now Family Bargains and Home Bargains, The last half remains empty.
• Stockton, Opened 1999 and re-branded as Woolworths & Peacocks in 2005. Now split up into stores for The Range, B&M Homestore, Discount UK and Smyths Toys.
• Cheatnam Hill, Opened 1999, Down-sized and re-branded as Woolworths, Laura Ashley and Currys in 2005. The Woolworths side is now B&M Bargains, Dreams and Matalan, forming a Retail Park.
• Catcliffe, Opened ????, Became Woolworths and Peacocks in 2005, added a Specsavers store later on, Now Boundary Mill Stores.
• Birmingham, Opened ???? and rebranded as Woolworths in 2005, Closed down and Boarded up in 2008, Now split up into stores for Toys R Us, B&M Bargains, Outfit, Iceland, Boots, JD Sports and Poundland.
• Coatbridge, Opened 2002 and Rebranded as Woolworths in 2005, Closed shortly after. Now Tesco Extra.
• Aberdeen, Opened 2003, Closed 2005, now Asda.
• Bolton, Opened ????, Closed 2005, Now Asda.
• Redruth, Opened 2000, Closed 2005, Now Tesco Extra.
• Coventry, Closed, Now Tesco Extra

A 22nd store in Byker was planned, but instead opened as a 95,000 Square Foot Woolworths store in 2004.