Massive homeware chain boss says it could take over Wilko stores as part of plans to open 20 new shops

THE boss of a popular homeware giant has hinted that it could take over Wilko stores as part of plans to open up to 20 new shops.

Dunelm has said it expects to acquire several former Wilko locations.

Nick Wilkinson, chief executive at Dunelm, told The Times it has been looking at some Wilko locations that will soon “end up with a Dunlem above the door”.

It comes as the homeware giant revealed it has plans to open several new stores across the UK.

In its latest preliminary results on Wednesday, Dunelm said it has plans to open “five to 10” new stores each year in the next two years.

That is up from three to five on average over the past five years.

Wilkinson also said that he wanted to target stores in “urban areas” in southeast England and London.

This is where there are fewer Dunelms already and will therefore make it easier for customers to access stores.

However, Dunelm told The Sun it’s not yet identified specific Wilko stores of interest.

Mr Wilkinson said: “[Wilko] had 400 shops and we’re talking about five to ten shops a year, so we’re not one of the players to say we’d like to take on a tranche of stores.

“But I suspect what will happen is that as stores go back to landlords … there will be an opportunity to pick up [some of those shops].”

Last week, Lidl hinted that it has plans to take over several former sites.

Lidl boss Ryan McDonnell revealed his property team was in “close contact” with Wilko’s administrator about potentially snapping up some of its old stores.

The German discount retailer was reportedly “very, very active” in its new store acquisition programme, he added.

While Aldi also confirmed it could take over a number of stores.

Giles Hurley, UK and Ireland chief executive of Aldi, said the business could rescue branches as part of its own expansion plans.

The discounter is set to create thousands of jobs and open 500 stores in the coming years.

Wilko collapsed on August 10 after trying and failing to find a backer for the company.

Administrators at PwC announced on Tuesday (September 19) that 111 more stores will serve customers for the last time next week.

Poundland has since snapped up up to 71 shops, stating that Wilko workers will be first in the line for new jobs.

A £13million deal to sell up to 51 Wilko stores to rival B&M had already been agreed.

Each of the 122 stores bought by the discount chains will be rebranded under their new owner’s names.

All 400 Wilko stores are set to close their doors for good by early October.

On September 12, 24 Wilko stores closed for good and on Thursday, September 14, another 28 stores shut up shop.

Both of Wilko’s warehouses, called distribution centres, also closed on September 15.

A further 38 stores pulled down the shutters one last time on September 17.

Another 38 shops closed on Tuesday this week, leaving workers and shoppers devastated.

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