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.
Posted on 23 March 2007 by
Virus Bulletin
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