The news of the disappearance of the WH Smith name from British high streets after 233 years has rapidly been supplanted by a question: who, or perhaps what, is its replacement TGJones?
Included in the announcement from the new owner, Modella Capital, which has acquired the 480-store high street chain for just £76m, is the detail that after a “short transitional period” visitors to its shops will be greeted with the fictitious “family” brand name.