As an established journalist and broadcaster, Jeremy Vine is known for asking questions, but, this weekend, one question around reviving a former high-street brand has led to people sharing their memories of Woolworths.
Taking to Twitter with the challenge, Mr Vine shared an image of four defunct chains – KwikSave, C&A, Woolworths and Blockbuster – with text above it saying “you have to choose one to bring back”.
“I know the answer but I want you to tell me,” he added.
The presenter is yet to reveal what he considers the right answer, but for many, that would be Woolworths.
The popular and much-loved brand – famed for its Pick ‘n’ Mix – closed its final stores in the UK in 2009 after going into administration. This Woolies is not to be confused with the chains in Australia and New Zealand, though, which are managed by different companies and are just not the same.
More than a decade after the doors to Woolworths shut for the last time, people are still keen to see it make a high street comeback:
Woolworths, don't know how they would work the pick and mix in todays climate.... Always used to try before you buy !! 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/0Wh1B5DTy6
— MADOLDIE (@MADOLDIE) July 10, 2021
Woolworths…..bloody miss this store. Spent hours in it. Pic’n’Mix was heaven...and I got lost in stationery section. pic.twitter.com/SNvzwi4Rai
— Maggie Scarborough (@strictlymagsy) July 10, 2021
Woolworths. Kids today will experience the joy of pinching sweets from the pick n mix!
— PaulMak (@pmak27) July 10, 2021
Come on we all did it!
Arh the memories, loved my C and A clothes! 🤣but for an all rounder it has to be Woolworths! Imagine my surprise when In 2017 whilst in Barbados I found a store in Bridgetown! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Des4RTuPRV
— Alison Newell (@ALIBONGO1969) July 11, 2021
Woolworths sold records, so no contest. Rummaging through records for hours, finding some gems, and the anticipation on the way home, is the perfect retail experience.
— 🌼Louise🕊Ellissi☮Daviessi💙 (@louanndavies) July 11, 2021
Woollies all day long. I worked at their HQ for 7 years. They were great times. Plus Woollies was a big part of my teenage years. Buying chart music, pic’n’mix and Christmas presents.
— pebbles to sea 🇬🇧 (@neyagwillim) July 10, 2021
Woolworths. The wooden floors & behind counter service. Being told ‘work hard or end up working in Woolworths’. I bought my fresh salmon & cucumber sarnies there, long before the ubiquitous pkt sandwich. Often I think I want x and I know Woolies would have had it. Miss it still.
— Mary Meehan (@marmee19678) July 11, 2021
Woolworths, definitely. You could get just about everything there. I had a Saturday job in my local one and I was on the sweets counter, measuring loose sweets and pick 'n' mix. Legendary.
— Jan Rejoiner Matthews 🇪🇺 😷 🏴♎ 🇪🇺 (@janmatthews) July 10, 2021
Woolworths. They would have embraced Funko Pop figures, blu rays, table top board games... plus I can't even begin to imagine the scale that Pick & Mix could have reached.
— Alex Sievewright (@AlexSievewright) July 10, 2021
I'm talking epic heights, Jeremy. Epic.
We can only dream of its return. One day.
