Shares in sweets-to-DVDs retailer Woolworths <WLW.L> fell more than 12 percent in heavy turnover on Tuesday when it became the first high street store to warn on Christmas profits.

Woolworths said on Wednesday like-for-like sales at its retail chain fell 4.6 percent in the six weeks to January 13, and its annual profit should meet recently revised forecasts.

In 1980, UK newspaper The Guardian was forced to pulp its entire batch of Christmas cards which read, “Best wishes for Chistmas and the New Year.” A Woolworths spokeswoman declined to comment.