Lidl boss Ryan McDonnell said his property team were in “close contact” with Wilko’s administrator about the possibility of snapping up some of its former stores.

Lidl was “very, very active” in its new store acquisition programme, he added, and that while nothing was finalised with Wilko, the discounter was “certainly always interested in looking at properties where they meet our requirements”.

Lidl opened 50 stores in the year to 28 February, 2023, and wants to reach an 1,100-store estate by the end of 2025. As part of this goal, Lidl published a list of priority locations in April of this year and reiterated a finder’s fee for suitable sites. It has opened at least 15 new stores this year.

Lidl’s interest in Wilko follows Aldi confirming that it was also weighing up a move for some of the collapsed value chain’s stores, as it too looks to press ahead with new store openings.

With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, both Aldi and Lidl have enjoyed “some of the biggest market share gains over the past 12 months”, according to Kantar head of retail and consumer insight Fraser McKevitt.

The latest Kantar grocery market share data for the month to September 3 show that Aldi and Lidl now account for more than 17% of share.

The failure of a deal to save Wilko, which collapsed into administration in August, has sparked something of a frenzy to snap up its 400-plus stores.

Poundland recently announced a deal to take 71 former Wilko sites, while value competitor B&M announced plans to take 51 stores. 

Today it was confirmed by administrator PwC that The Range had bought the rights to Wilko’s online business and brand in a £5m deal.

Wilko stores will shutter for good by early October and widespread redundancies have already taken place across the brand’s more than 12,000 shop staff.

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