Wilko stores will reopen on the High Street before Christmas
Wilko stores in Plymouth and Exeter.
It's clear that there's a huge love for Wilko, stated the company's CEO. Wilko went bankrupt in early August, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs and the closing of 408 stores, many of which were in traditional town centres.
Former Wilko employees would be given preference in the recruitment process for the new stores, according to CDS Supermarkets, which owns The Range.
When CDS purchased the brand, it intended to offer some Wilko products in its existing stores but did not intend to build additional Wilko locations.
While these High Street venues are convenient for customers without cars, there has been a shift to larger retail parks and out-of-town options with more space since the pandemic.
This, along with Wilko's failure to compete with other cheap businesses such as The Range, B&M, and Poundland, contributed to the company's demise.
Customers reported difficulty finding the items they wanted on the shelves after Wilko failed to pay suppliers and at least one credit insurance withdrew its coverage, causing some companies to halt delivery to the stores.
CDS is also proposing to open Wilko-branded stores in Northern Ireland for the first time.
JK Wilkinson established Wilko in 1930 with the opening of his first store in Leicester.
