Standalone Wilko stores are set to return to the high street and retail parks before the end of the year as its new owner prepares for an aggressive roll-out.
The Range owner CDS Superstores, which acquired the discount chain’s brand and intellectual property in a £5m deal after it collapsed into administration, said it was preparing a national roll-out of stores across England, Scotland, Wales and for the first time, Northern Ireland.
The parent company said it planned to unveil five new concept locations before this Christmas – including in Plymouth and Exeter – ahead of the rest of the store openings throughout 2024.
It said that it would prioritise former Wilko employees in the recruitment process for the new shops.
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The news comes as the parent company relaunched the Wilko website earlier this month and introduced the brand’s products to The Range’s 200 stores.
CDS Superstores chief executive Alex Simpkin said: “For the majority of its 93 years, wilko was an incredibly successful business that gave its customers exactly what they needed to get their home and garden jobs sorted.
“It was their advanced own-brand capabilities that encouraged us to invest in the brand and wilko.com and we’re excited to now be selling wilko products online once more and across our 200 stores network.”
“The public reaction to the loss of wilko stores was undeniable. It’s clear that there’s a huge love for wilko and we’ve seen an encouraging demand for the return of its own-brand products.
“That’s why we’ve taken the decision to reintroduce wilko back to many of the high streets and communities that it used to so proudly serve.
“Our team from wilko that joined us through the acquisition has shown true resilience, they’ve set to work to integrate the best parts of wilko into The Range’s operational systems.
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