The Woolworths brand could be sold within a week as potential buyers including Theo Paphitis, the entrepreneur and Dragon's Den judge, line up possible bids for the failed variety retailer.

Neville Kahn, the Deloitte partner who is leading the administration process, said yesterday that he would be talking to interested parties today and expected to have a preferred bidder for the retailer's brand and a large number of stores by the end of the week.