There are plans to open 300 stores.
Wilko has returned to the UK’s high street with five new stores across the country and another one on the way.
The beloved high street retailer closed its doors last year after collapsing into administration but the brand was later bought by rival outlet The Range for £5million.
The company, which trades under the name CDS Superstores, has already launched new Wilko shops in Plymouth, Exeter, Luton, St Albans and Rotherham, and a sixth is due to open in Poole on August 16.
CDS Superstores has previously said it hopes to open 300 new Wilko stores, but has not revealed any more locations and opening dates.
Wilko employed around 12,500 workers and had around 400 stores before its collapse in August 2023.
These staff are being prioritised to work in the new stores, CDS said.
At the time Wilko went into administration PricewaterhouseCoopers were unable to find a buyer which meant its store leases and other assets were sold off in parts.
Poundland took on the leases of up to 70 former Wilko units, while B&M took around 50.
Alex Simpkin, chief executive of CDS Superstores, said last year: ‘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.
Wilko stores already open:
Wilko store opening soon:
‘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.’
Among the potential sites being considered for new stores are former Wilko shops and fresh locations altogether.
The new stores offer typical Wilko products such as cleaning and household, decorating and DIY, garden and outdoor, homeware, pets and wildlife, storage and Christmas.
In emotional goodbyes across Wilko stores last year, staff belted out Tina Turner’s Simply The Best in Newcastle, while committed workers huddled together in Essex.
A version of this article was first published in December 2023.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
