Poundland confirms plans to open more ex-Wilko stores after hiring hundreds of former Wilko workers

Poundland said it has hired 962 former Wilko employees as it continues to reopen the stores, under the Poundland brand.

It said 826 of these workers are on hourly paid contracts at the reopened shops, while a further 122 have been hired to work as store managers or assistant managers.

WATCH NOW: Shoppers react to Wilko store closure news in September 2023

A further 14 former Wilko workers have been given jobs at Poundland’s main support centre in Walsall.

Simon Wells, people director at Poundland, said: “I really want to thank the Poundland team for their extraordinary efforts in making so many roles available, so quickly, to those affected by the administration of Wilko.

“We know by keeping our promise to reopen former Wilko stores in such numbers, and at such pace, we’ve made a big difference to hundreds of people.

“We’re incredibly proud that so many former Wilko team members have now chosen to continue their careers here at Poundland.”

The Range owner CDS Superstores agreed a deal with administrators to buy the Wilko brand, website and intellectual property earlier this year and has since relaunched the website and announced new Wilko concept stores would open.

At the end of October, the new owner announced five Wilko concept stores would open before Christmas, ahead of a “wider roll out” in 2024.

So far, three stores – in Plymouth, Luton and Exeter – have opened.

GB News has contacted Wilko asking where the other two Wilko concept stores due to open before Christmas will be.

According to an earlier announcement, it’s expected one will be in the South-East and the other will be in the North.

Elsewhere earlier this year, B&M agreed a deal with Wilko administrators to buy up to 51 Wilko stores.

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CDS Superstores said Wilko was planning to recruit up to 80 local team members per store and pledged to prioritise interviews for former Wilko employees.

Speaking ahead of the new concept store openings, CEO of CDS Superstores, trading as wilko and The Range, Alex Simpkin said: “It’s clear that there’s a huge love for wilko and we’re proud to confirm we’ll be re-introducing the brand to high streets in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton in the coming weeks.

“We’re also glad to be bringing employment opportunities to these towns and for helping local families and communities have easy access to all the everyday home and garden items they need once again.

“This initial rollout is only the beginning for our plans for revitalising the wilko brand on the nation’s high streets and retail parks, and we’ll be announcing further store launches and re-openings throughout 2024.”