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


Looks like Lidl is next after Poundland, B&M and The Range (Picture: PA / AFP)

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.

epa10855985 A Wilko store in London, Britain, 12 September 2023. The first of many Wilko retail stores are set to close 12 September after the retailer failed to find a buyer. Some stores across the UK will start closing from 12 September and later this week, with all 400 of the discount chain's shops set to close by October. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Some 52 branches of the high street store are set to close this week, with the rest next month (Picture: EPA)

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Maureen McLean/Shutterstock (14086354a) Empty shelves in a Wilko Store in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Following the administration of Wilko, 52 of their 400 Wilko stores are to close next week resulting in over 1,000 redundancies Wilko Administration, Store Closures, Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK - 07 Sep 2023

Thousands of Wilko employees are set to lose their jobs (Picture: Shutterstock)

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.

PENZANCE, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 31: The Lidl logo is displayed outside a branch of the supermarket retailer Lidl on May 31, 2022 in Penzance, England. The German discount retailer chain operates over 11,000 stores across Europe and the United States. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Might Lidl snap up some old Wilko shops? (Picture: Getty Images)

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.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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