Wilko is closing its first branches as part of the administration
ilko will close its first group of stores on Tuesday as the chain’s dramatic collapse takes shape.
The historic retailer will close 24 stores across the UK in the first phase of closures, with hundreds of store staff being made redundant.
It comes a day after the administration confirmed that all remaining staff at the group’s store, warehouse and support center will lose their jobs.
Family-owned Wilko employed 12,500 people and ran 400 stores before hiring administrators early last month after coming under pressure from weak consumer spending and supplier debts.
Trading has continued across all stores in recent weeks as remaining stock was depleted and the retailer discounted thousands of products.
However, PwC confirmed last week that a number of branches would have to close permanently after failing to secure a deal that would buy out all of the company’s branches.
It was later confirmed that 52 stores were to close as they had not been targeted by potential buyers for parts of the retail business.
The first phase of closures will therefore take place on Tuesday.
Another 28 stores will be closed on Thursday.
These closures will result in 1,016 layoffs, while the administration has also announced hundreds more job cuts affecting warehouse and support center employees.
Another 124 stores will close permanently next week while the process continues, and the final 222 stores are all scheduled to close by early October.
PwC announced that the company’s warehouse will close on Friday and the last support center employees will leave the company in early October as operations cease completely.
Administrators are still negotiating deals to sell stores but are closing sites after failing to find a suitor who would take them over as Wilko stores and retain their staff.
Here are the 24 stores that will close their doors on Tuesday:
Acton, LondonAldershot, HampshireBarking, LondonBishop Auckland, County DurhamBletchley, Milton KeynesBrownhills, WalsallCamberley, SurreyCardiff Bay Retail ParkFalmouth, CornwallHarpurhey, ManchesterIrvine, North AyrshireLiverpool Edge LaneLlandudno, WalesLowestoft, SuffolkMorley, LeedsNelson, LancashirePort Talbot, WalesPutney, LondonStafford, StaffordshireTunbridge Wells , KentWake fields, 121 KirkgateWeston-super-Mare, SomersetWestwood Cross Retail Park, Broadstairs, KentWinsford, Cheshire
https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/wilko-shuts-first-stores-as-administration-unfolds-b1106353.html Wilko is closing its first branches as part of the administration
