Lidl eyes former Wilko stores after The Range snaps up brand and website | UK News

The scramble to scoop up some of Wilko’s 400 shut shops continues.

So far, Pepco has bought 71 stores and will make them Poundland branches, B&M has purchased another 51 of the buildings, and The Range has nabbed its brand and website.

And now, it looks like Lidl has entered the fold to try and get its hands on some of the shops.

Lidl boss Ryan McDonnell told Retail Week his property team were in ‘close contact’ with Wilko’s administrator, PwC.

He said the supermarket is ‘very, very active’ in its new store acquisition programme, and is ‘certainly always interested in looking at properties where they meet our requirements’.

Lidl has opened 50 new stores in the year to the end of February, and has opened at least 15 new branches this year.

It wants to reach 1,100 stores by 2025 and published a list of priority locations in April.

The discount supermarket chain this week revealed its British arm swung to an annual loss, however.

Lidl reported pre-tax losses of £76 million for the year to the end of February – against profits of £41.1 million the previous year.

But it said it had invested heavily in the business to increase its market share, and added its sales had jumped 18.8% to £9.3 billion.

A spokesperson said the losses came as it faced a ‘challenging inflationary environment which led to an increase in costs across the board’.

Aldi is also thought to be considering purchasing some of Wilko’s closed stores, while it also looks to expand its brand.

It was announced this week that all of Wilko’s 12,500 workers are ‘likely’ to be made redundant after attempts to rescue the discount chain failed.

Some 52 branches are set to close this week, with the rest next month.

But following The Range’s brand purchase, Wilko’s online operations are expected to restart under the new ownership once store closures are completed in early October.

Joint administrator Jane Steer said: ‘Since our appointment, the feedback from customers and wider stakeholders during this challenging period has reinforced the fact that Wilko remains a much loved and trusted brand within the UK.

‘This sale to The Range will ensure that the Wilko name lives on under their ownership and we wish The Range every success.’

The retailer was founded by James Kemsey Wilkinson in Leicester in 1930.

A rescue deal from Doug Putman, the billionaire owner of HMV, which could have saved some 300 branches fell through earlier this week.

At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak pledged his support for all the workers affected by the collapse.

He said: ‘I do know that this is a concerning time for workers at Wilko. The business secretary is keeping close to developments and we have already started supporting those who have been made redundant, and we stand ready to support others to the fullest of our abilities.’

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