Woolworths to join UK AV market
Retail chain set to issue own-label software range.
Major UK high street retailer Woolworths is set to follow supermarket giant Tesco in releasing its
own-brand range of software at budget prices, including an anti-virus product and an Internet security suite. The
range will be licensed from the same source as the Tesco range
released last October, and will use security products from
Panda Software.
The UK Woolworths chain, which separated from its US parent in 1983, has around 800 stores across the country,
mostly on high streets, and has recently branched out into catalogue marketing alongside its successful online shop.
The software range is expected to include a set of office products as well as the security offerings, all of which
will be supplied by licensing company Formjet Innovations.
The Woolworths chain, spawned from the original US 'five-and-dime' stores of F.W. Woolworth, has a
reputation for value, and the software prices are expected to compete with those offered by Tesco, currently
below £10 ($20 US) for the anti-virus and anti-spyware product, and less than £20 for the full security
suite (these purchase prices include a year's licensing for updates and email technical support, also provided by
Formjet).
Although no firm details are yet available, products are expected to be in stores some time in April, and a
preliminary announcement can be found at Formjet's site,
here. Formjet's future projects list also
includes working with Sainsbury's, the UK's third largest supermarket chain behind Tesco, and Walmart-owned
ASDA, although it is not yet clear if there will be a fully rebadged Sainsbury's product range or if
existing products from Panda and fellow Formjet licensee Ability Office will be made available
in stores.
23 March 2007
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