Wilko enters administration

Wilko has entered administration

Budget retailer Wilko – which has a store in Middleton – has entered administration (Thursday 10 August).

The retailer, which has 400 nationwide stores, with as many as 12,000 jobs now at risk, suspended home deliveries from its online site on 9 August. It is not known how many local jobs are at risk.

The board has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as administrator after rescue talks collapsed.

Wilko CEO Mark Jackson said: “Over the past six months we’ve been open with all our stakeholders including our team members that we’ve been considering options to accelerate a turnaround plan given that we needed to make significant changes to the way we operate to restore confidence and stabilise our business. 

“We left no stone unturned when it came to preserving this incredible business but must concede that with regret, we’ve no choice but to take the difficult decision to enter into administration.

“I’d like to take this opportunity on behalf of the directors and the Wilkinson family to thank all of our customers and our hardworking team members across our stores, logistics and support centre who remained loyal to Wilko. 

“It’s been an honour to have worked alongside you all as we fought to realise and to maximise the significant opportunities that existed to re-establish a profitable Wilko.”

Wilko opened its first store – a hardware shop – in 1930 in Leicester.