Wilko, the popular high-street retailer, is set to bid farewell to 24 of its stores starting today. The closures mark the first wave of shutdowns, with an additional 28 stores ceasing operations later this week. Over the next week, 124 more shops will follow suit, culminating in the closure of the final 222 stores by early next month.
Staff Impact
This unfortunate development will result in over 1,000 staff members being made redundant this week, and all 12,500 employees across the company’s 400 stores are expected to lose their jobs.
Administrator’s Efforts
The closure comes after administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) announced its inability to secure a buyer for the business who would have taken over the Wilko brand and retained staff. PwC is still actively trying to sell the individual store locations.
Previous Rescue Deal
Notably, a rescue deal for 100 Wilko outlets involving the owner of HMV collapsed, as reported by Sky News on Monday.
Stores Closing Today
Here is the list of 24 Wilko stores closing their doors today:
- Acton, London
- Aldershot, Hampshire
- Barking, London
- Bishop Auckland, County Durham
- Bletchley, Milton Keynes
- Brownhills, Walsall
- Camberley, Surrey
- Cardiff Bay Retail Park
- Falmouth, Cornwall
- Harpurhey, Manchester
- Irvine, North Ayrshire
- Liverpool Edge Lane
- Llandudno, Wales
- Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Morley, Leeds
- Nelson, Lancashire
- Port Talbot, Wales
- Putney, London
- Stafford, Staffordshire
- Tunbridge Wells, Kent
- Wakefield, 121 Kirkgate
- Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
- Westwood Cross Retail Park, Broadstairs, Kent
- Winsford, Cheshire
B&M Acquisition
Last week, rival retailer B&M reached an agreement to acquire 51 Wilko stores in a deal worth up to £13 million. The fate of these locations, including the possibility of rebranding and staff retention, remains uncertain.
Wilko’s Challenges
Wilko, which had been owned by the Wilkinson family for decades, faced insurmountable challenges, including weak consumer spending, intense competition from discount chains like Poundland and The Range, and mounting debts to suppliers.
Stay updated on this developing story as we follow Wilko’s store closures across the nation.
