Wilko returns to UK high streets with stores in Plymouth and Exeter
The Wilko brand has returned to UK high streets today with the opening of concept stores in Plymouth and Exeter ahead of a national roll-out.
The retailer entered administration in August but its name and intellectual property were acquired by The Range in a deal worth £5 million in September.
There will also be a store opening in Luton on 8 December.
The Plymouth and Exeter shops welcomed queues of returning Wilko customers who were keen to see the in-store ranges which include 20% more product lines. Customers will also be able to browse and order from the 100,000 items available on Wilko.com using self-service terminals for home delivery.
Alex Simpkin, chief executive of CDS Superstores, which trades as The Range and Wilko, said: “The customer reaction to the new stores opening today has been fantastic and proves we’re doing the right thing in returning this much-loved retailer to UK high streets.”
New fixtures in the concept stores include on-site paint mixing and key cutting services.
CDS said staff at the two new stores include three quarters of the original team in Plymouth and a third in Exeter across all levels.
The roll-out will continue throughout 2024 and will include the opening of Wilko sites in Northern Ireland for the first time.
