Just hours after it was announced yesterday that B&M was buying 51 Wilko sites, administrators confirmed that other stores in the 400-strong estate would start closing in the coming days.
PwC said that 52 Wilko stores would start shutting from 12 September, impacting 1,016 jobs. A list of the locations earmarked for closure has been published today (see below).
Staff layoffs in Wilko’s offices and warehouses had already begun on Monday.
“In the absence of viable offers for the whole business, very sadly store closures and redundancies of team members from those stores are now necessary,” said Edward Williams, joint administrator at PwC.
“We know this has been a deeply unsettling time for everyone concerned and would like to express our gratitude to all Wilko team members for the dedication and support they have continued to give the business in the most trying of circumstances.”
In an update today, Williams stated that “active discussions” with parties interested in buying parts of the business were continuing. However, he warned that depending on the outcome of the talks, it was possible that further store closures would follow soon.
PwC is believed to be continuing discussions with Doug Putman, the businessman who engineered a turnaround of HMV. He has been negotiating to save as many as 300 Wilko stores. However, it was reported this week that the potential deal has been put at risk as some key suppliers want outstanding debts repaid upfront to guarantee continuing to provide products to the chain. Financing concerns have also slowed negotiations with PwC, but sources suggest that a slimmed-down deal could still be struck this week.
Other rival retailers such as Poundland, The Range, Home Bargains and TOFS are also believed to have expressed an interest in buying out parts of Wilko’s business.
The 24 Wilko stores due to close on 12 September:
Acton, Aldershot, Barking, Bishop Auckland, Bletchley FF, Brownhills, Camberley, Cardiff Bay Retail Park, Falmouth, Harpurhey, Irvine, Liverpool Edge Lane, Llandudno, Lowestoft, Morley, Nelson, Port Talbot, Putney, Stafford, Tunbridge Wells, Wakefield, Weston-super-Mare, Westwood Cross, Winsford.
The 28 Wilko stores due to close on the 14 September:
Ashford, Avonmeads, Banbury, Barrow in Furness, Basildon, Belle Vale, Burnley (Relocation), Clydebank, Cortonwood, Dagenham, Dewsbury, Eccles, Folkestone, Great Yarmouth, Hammersmith, Huddersfield, Morriston, New Malden, North Shields, Queen Street Cardiff, Rhyl, Southampton-West Quay, St Austell, Stockport, Truro, Uttoxeter, Walsall, Woking.
