Wilko to axe 15 stores putting hundreds of jobs at risk

Wilko said that the planned closures come as leases end and where favourable terms cannot be agreed, with the value retailer explaining it had identified some outdated lease agreements. 

It added that it would open negotiations with all landlords but that stores would close unless new terms could be reached.

The plan to shut 15 stores will impact 300 Wilko employees. However, the retailer said it wants to find alternative positions for existing staff at nearby stores.

Chief executive Jerome Saint-Marc said: “Our history is steeped in serving our customers and communities going back to 1930 but there’s no denying the way people shop with us and where they want to shop with us is changing. As a business, we’re evolving and this includes working with landlords for more favourable terms, as well as looking at locations and store formats. We’ll continue to pull together to make our business better to secure the future of over 16,000 team members.

“We’ll be doing everything we can to support our affected team members who will be offered any available positions in nearby stores. We apologise to those communities where stores are closing but will continue to offer them everything they need in nearby stores or via Wilko.com.”

GMB national officer Roger Jenkins said: “These closures are devastating for Wilko workers and the communities who use them It’s yet another nail in the high street’s coffin and GMB calls on councils and landlords to review commercial leases and offer lower rents.

“Empty high streets and shopping centres are in no one’s interest and but with 400 shops a week closing, this is inevitable, unless the costs of premises can be reduced.”

Wilko has 414 locations across the UK. Some of the stores affected by the plans include Shipley, Bournemouth, Stockton, Grantham, Rotherham, Redditch, Skegness, Llanelli, Tydfil and Cleethorpes. Of the 15 stores marked for closure, 11 have an alternative Wilko branch within a five-mile radius