The new year looks set to herald changes at some of the big name stores in South Pembrokeshire.

The Co-operative Group has taken over Somerfield, while a pub giant is keen on moving into the area just as one of the best-known High Street retailers collapses under debt.

When contacted by the Observer this week, a spokeswoman for The Co-operative Group - which has a store in Kilgetty - said that together with Somerfield - which has a store in Tenby - they welcomed the Office of Fair Trading decision made in the autumn to allow the proposed acquisition of Somerfield by The Co-operative, subject to them addressing a small number of local competition issues.

Said the spokeswoman: "This will create a stronger fifth player in the grocery market and is good news for consumers and good for competition.

"Staff who may be affected, in the locations where the OFT has a competition issue, have been briefed.  

"In these locations, either a Somerfield store or a Co-operative Group store will need to be sold as a going concern to another food retailer in order to meet the requirements of the OFT."

Which stores would be sold, however, the spokeswoman was unable to say.  

But she emphasised that "staff terms and conditions would be maintained by employment legislation."

She did, however, reveal that one of the locations identified by the OFT was the Tenby area.

Added the spokeswoman: "Somerfield and Co-operative staff in the area have been informed that they may be affected."

Pub giant

interested in Tenby

Meanwhile, one of the UK's pub giants has confirmed this week that it is keen to open a site in Tenby.

"J. D. Wetherspoon is looking in Tenby, but does not have any sites at present which it is pursuing," said a spokesman for the company on Wednesday.

Woolworths to close in January?

But while one company is looking to move into Tenby, it looks likely one of the town's well-known stores is likely to be shutting its doors next month.

Administrators at Woolworths say that all 807 stores nationwide will close by January 5 if no last-minute buyer is found.

The first shops will shut on December 27 and all 27,000 permanent and temporary staff will lose their jobs.

As we were going to press yesterday (Thursday), it was unconfirmed officially when the Tenby shop, as well as other Pembrokeshire stores - Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest - would cease trading.

The administrators said there was still interest in parts of the business, but admitted they had 'not come close' to finding a buyer for the firm.

A range of food, clothes and 'value retailers' had made offers to take over the leases at about 300 stores.

Efforts would be made to put Woolworths staff who were losing their jobs in contact with these potential employers, the administrators Deloitte said.