// Wilko to invest £48m in improving customer experience in-store and online
// The retailer signed a 15-year partnership agreement with logistics firm DHL
Wilko has inked plans to unlock £48 million as part of a strategic 15-year partnership agreement with logistics firm DHL.
The retailer will sell and leaseback its Nottinghamshire distribution centre to the logistics giant.
Wilko said the deal will allow the retailer to improve the proposition and customer experience across its 402 stores and online.
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Wilko said it will continue to invest in its omnichannel offer and improve customer experiences.
Working in partnership with DHL means both Wilko and DHL will benefit from scale in property and warehousing.
Wilko said this will help it concentrate its efforts on “doing what it does best” – supplying families with great value products, easily accessible either online in or store.
“It’s standard business practice to constantly review how we manage our finances,” Wilko CEO Jerome Saint-Marc said.
“This property deal with DHL represents long-term stability for us and our team members and is the right response to the current market conditions and our priorities.
“We’re making smart choices to trade a business and allow us to continue to invest in our long-term transformational strategy.
“Wilko remains family owned and continues to focus on helping hard working families to be the best that they can be, delivering great value products to our customers.”
