A hoax Twitter account claiming Woolworths was set to make a comeback has been denounced by the brand's owner.
The Very Group - who owns the Woolworths UK trademark - has said the account, which claimed three new stores would be opening next year, is not associated with them.
When pressed by The Chronicle's sister paper The Gazette about whether Woolworths would be making a return to the UK's high street, Very's press officer said they couldn't answer the question but did not deny it.
In a statement, the spokesman said: “We own the Woolworths trademark in the UK. The Twitter account UKWoolworths is not connected to The Very Group.”
The chain, which was loved for it Pick ‘n’ Mix, shut its doors in Winchester High Street in the 1990s.
When asked who was running the Twitter account, the spokesman for Very said they didn't know or couldn't answer.
It is unclear whether the Twitter account might be being run by an employee or a third-party mischief maker.
The account sent social media into meltdown after claiming it was "here to save 2020" as they announced Woolworths would allegedly be returning to Britain's high streets with three trial stores.
They alleged the stores would be returning by the end of 2021.
Here to save 2020! Woolworths is coming back to your high street, as a physical store!
— Woolworths UK (@UKWoolworths) October 27, 2020
A couple of legal things to get sorted, but we’re full steam ahead at Woolworths HQ.
We want to get this right, so we need your help. What do you want at your UK #YourWoolworths? pic.twitter.com/k5BtcYdcAI
The claims have created a buzz on social media with twitter users reminiscing about everything the stores had to offer from Pick ‘n’ Mix to Christmas catalogues.
Every time I see Woolworths trending I just think about the pick n mix and when life was good pic.twitter.com/jTirnuMXzh
— тαѕнα (@eds_shirtsleeve) October 26, 2020
The Twitter claims have not yet been verified, more to follow.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here