Wilko unveils locations of two new stores set to open this Spring after announcing store rollout in 2024
Wilko stores closed last year but The Range has since bought the intellectual property, brand and website
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Wilko has announced plans to open two new stores in Rotherham and St Albans, under new ownership.
The stores will open in Spring 2024, however the dates are yet to be revealed.
The St Albans site will be in The Maltings, while Wilko in Rotherham will be based in Parkgate Shopping Park.
Wilko said exact timings on the launch of these stores will be announced "shortly", alongside "news of further store openings".
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Wilko collapsed into administration in August last year but two stores have since reopened under new ownership
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The Range owner CDS Superstores opened three Wilko concept stores in Plymouth, Exeter, and Luton last month, after agreeing a deal with administrators to purchase the brand, website and intellectual property earlier this year.
The two new stores will open slightly later than planned, after Wilko said in November it would open five concept stores before Christmas, ahead of a wider rollout in 2024.
CEO of CDS Superstores, trading as The Range and Wilko, Alex Simpkin said today: “The initial reaction to the new concept stores has been even better than we’d hoped, we’ve seen queues of both returning and new customers at the store launches and the feedback is giving us the confidence we need to continue with our store opening plans.
“We’re in advanced negotiations with a number of landlords and are continuing to review all options as a part of our roll-out plan. Any interested agents or landlords should get in touch.
“We’ll continue to endeavour to give ex-wilko employees priority as a part of the recruitment process for the new stores.”
The new Wilko stores will offer a range of home and garden products, including Wilko-brand products as well as well-known brands.
Last year, Wilko said it was planning to recruit up to 80 local team members per store, with the brand’s new owner pledging to prioritise interviews for former Wilko employees.
CEO of CDS Superstores, trading as Wilko and The Range, Alex Simpkin said they were “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”.
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He added: “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.”
All Wilko’s 400 stores closed by mid October after it was not possible to find a buyer for the whole of the business, resulting in thousands of redundancies.
However, Poundland owner Pepco did agree a deal with administrators to purchase up to 71 Wilko properties.
Poundland has since opened some of the properties under the Poundland brand.
The retailer aims to have completed 64 rapid Wilko to Poundland conversions by the end of the year.