300 jobs could go as Wilko announces store portfolio review
Up to 300 jobs could be cut at Nottinghamshire-based retailer Wilko if a planned a store closure programme is carried out.
Wilko announced today (Monday January 10) that it is undertaking a complete review of its store portfolio and has announced proposals to close up to 15 stores before January 2023 as leases end and where favourable terms cannot be agreed. The firm said that negotiations are now ongoing with the landlords which could in turn impact any closures and this move does not impact the planned store opening programme for 2022.
Wilko currently has 414 stores in the UK. The affected stores are Bournemouth, Stockton, The Fort, Shipley, Scunthorpe ,Narborough Road, Grantham, Redditch, Rotherham, Skegness, Sutton, Coldfield, Orpington, Edmonton Green, Llanelli, Merthyr Tydfil and Cleethorpes.
Jerome Saint-Marc, wilko CEO, said: “Our history is steeped in serving our customers and communities going back to 1930 but there’s no denying the way people shop with us and where they want to shop with us is changing. As a business we’re evolving and this includes working with landlords for more favourable terms, as well as looking at locations and store formats. We’ll continue to pull together to make our business better to secure the future of over 16,000 team members”.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to support our affected team members who will be offered any available positions in nearby stores. We apologise to those communities where stores are closing but will continue to offer them everything they need in nearby stores or via wilko.com.”
Roger Jenkins, GMB National Officer, said: “These closures are devasting for Wilko workers and the communities who use them.
“It’s yet another nail in the High Street’s coffin and GMB calls on councils and landlords to review commercial leases and offer lower rents.
“Empty high streets and shopping centres are in no one’s interest and but with 400 shops a week closing, this is inevitable – unless the costs of premises can be reduced.
“GMB will now meet with Wilko members to discuss our next steps.”
A spokesperson for Wilko told TheBusinessDesk.com that the company is looking to offer alternative positions to staff in nearby stores.
