View source for Wilko

{{short description|British retail chain}}
{{Other uses|Wilko (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Wilco}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Wilko.com Limited
| logo = Wilko.svg
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2008
| type = [[Limited company]]<br>[[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Retail]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1930|df=yes}}
| location = Plymouth, [[United Kingdom]]
| num_locations = 7<ref>https://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/news/24722116.wilko-reopen-uxbridge-store-pavilions-month/</ref>
| key_people = [[Chris Dawson (businessman)|Chris Dawson]]
| products = {{ubl|[[Grocery store|Groceries]]|[[Consumer goods]]|Garden and leisure|Pet supplies|Stationery|Toiletries|[[DIY]]}}
| owner = Wilko Limited (1930–2023)<br>[[The Range (retailer)|CDS (Superstores International) Limited]] (2023–present)
| num_employees =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.wilko.com}}
| footnotes =
| company_types =
}}'''Wilko.com Limited''' (trading as '''Wilko''') is a British homeware and household retail chain owned by [[The Range (retailer)|CDS (Superstores International) Limited]] (trading as [[The Range (retailer)|The Range]]) since 2023, prior to which it was owned by '''Wilko Limited''', founded in the United Kingdom in 1930.
The company who owned Wilko, '''Wilko Limited'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00365335/filing-history/MzI5ODQ0ODI5MmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=gov.uk |access-date=24 October 2023 |date=1 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref> (formerly Wilkinson Cash Stores Limited,{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} Wilkinson Hardware Stores Limited,<ref name="Incorporation">{{cite web |title=Certificate of Incorporation |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00365335/filing-history/MTkzMTgyNTlhZGlxemtjeA/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=[[gov.uk]] |access-date=10 October 2023 |date=13 February 1941 |language=en}}</ref> and Wilko Retail Limited<ref name="Incorporation2">{{cite web |title=Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00365335/filing-history/MzEwMTcxMTk5OWFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=gov.uk |access-date=24 October 2023 |date=4 June 2014 |language=en}}</ref>) was founded in [[Leicester]] by [[James Kemsey Wilkinson]] in 1930, and remained in the ownership of the founding family before it went into [[Administration (law)#United Kingdom|administration]].<ref name="Masud"/> The chain entered administration in August 2023 after being faced with financial and supply issues for some time, which put 12,500 jobs at risk.<ref name="Masud">{{cite news |last=Masud |first=Faarea |title=Wilko to stay open for now in race to save jobs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66460059 |access-date=10 August 2023 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=10 August 2023}}</ref>
CDS acquired the Wilko brand, website and [[intellectual property]] the following month.<ref name="EveningStandard">{{cite web |last1=Saker-Clark |first1=Henry |title=The Range confirms deal to buy Wilko brand and website |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/the-range-confirms-deal-to-buy-wilko-brand-and-website-b1106924.html |website=Evening Standard |access-date=14 September 2023 |language=en |date=14 September 2023}}</ref> The final stores under the previous ownership closed on 8 October 2023.<ref name="BBCNews">{{cite web |last1=Hooker |first1=Lucy |last2=Masud |first2=Faarea |title=Wilko: End of an era as shops shut for good |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66995143 |website=BBC News |access-date=8 October 2023 |date=8 October 2023}}</ref> Wilko was relaunched as an online store on 12 October 2023,<ref name="Morgan">{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Aoife |title=Wilko relaunches website under new owner The Range |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2023/10/wilko-relaunches-website/ |website=Retail Gazette |access-date=12 October 2023 |date=12 October 2023}}</ref> and as a physical store in December 2023.<ref name="Wilko">{{cite web |title=wilko confirms first three locations and opening dates for their concept stores |url=https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/corporate/wilko-confirms-first-three-store-locations-and-reopening-dates-for-concept-stores |website=Wilko |access-date=2 January 2024 |date=3 November 2023}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Wilkinson - Carlton Street - geograph.org.uk - 2018984.jpg|thumb|left|A branch in [[Castleford, West Yorkshire|Castleford]] in 'Wilkinson' branding in 2010]]
[[File:Wilko Store, Royal Priors, Leamington Spa (15).jpg|thumb|left|Interior of a Wilko branch in [[Leamington Spa]], [[Warwickshire]].]]
The first Wilkinson store was opened by [[James Kemsey Wilkinson]] and his fiancee Mary Cooper at 151 Charnwood Street, [[Leicester]] in 1930, and a second store was opened in [[Wigston Magna]], near Leicester, in 1932. Nine branches were opened by 1939.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Corporate - Our history |url=https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/corporate/our-history |publisher=Wilko |access-date=15 October 2023}}</ref>
The [[Beaconsfield]] store can be seen in the background of a scene in the film ''[[Brief Encounter]]'' (1945).{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} By the end of the 1980s, the chain had 78 stores, increasing to over 152 by the end of the 1990s.<ref name=":0"/>
The founder's son, [[Tony Wilkinson (businessman)|Tony Wilkinson]], joined the company as a branch manager in 1960 and succeeded his father as chairman in 1972, retiring in June 2005. Tony was succeeded by his daughter, Lisa Wilkinson, and his niece, Karin Swann.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rich List 2013: No.=16 – Tony Wilkinson (£480m) |url=http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/rich-list-2013-no16---3908184 |work=[[Birmingham Post]]|date=3 June 2013 |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>
Wilkinson opened its first Scottish outlet in [[Castle Douglas]] in January 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/jobs-line-castle-douglas-branch-11039991|title=Jobs on the line at Castle Douglas store|first=Stuart|last=Gillespie|date=23 August 2017|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]}}</ref>
In 2012, Wilkinson began rebranding its stores as Wilko, after its own brand products already marketed under the ''Wilko'' name, and by 2014, most stores had been rebranded.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wilko&nbsp;— Annual Review 2012|url=http://corporate.wilko.com/_pdfs/Wilk_AR12_lowres.pdf|publisher=Wilko Corporate|access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Holland|first=Tiffany|title=Wilkinson rebrands store estate to 'Wilko' matching new strapline|url=http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/general-merchandise/wilkinson-rebrands-store-estate-to-wilko-matching-new-strapline/5059571.article|work=[[Retail Week]]|date=22 April 2014|access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lanyon|first=Daniel|title=Wilkinson rebrand to 'Wilko' gathers pace|url=http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/channels/discounters/wilkinson-rebrand-to-wilko-gathers-pace/237555.article|url-access=registration|work=The Grocer|date=16 March 2013|access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> Prior to the rebranding, the abbreviation ''Wilko'' had been commonly used as an informal reference to the brand.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
In 2014, Karin Swann sold her 50% holding in the business to Lisa, leaving Tony, his wife Christine and Lisa the sole owners of the company, and Lisa the chairman. Swann wanted to pursue other business interests and the decision did not represent a falling-out of the family.<ref name="Ruddick2014">{{cite news |last=Ruddick |first=Graham |date=2 August 2014 |title=Wilkinson family split after 84 years in retail |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/11008129/Wilkinson-family-split-after-84-years-in-retail.html |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>
In August 2017, Wilko began negotiations with the [[GMB (trade union)|GMB]] trade union over the company's plan to cut 4,000 jobs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Murad |date=11 August 2017 |title=Wilko looks at cutting more than 4,000 jobs |url=https://www.ft.com/content/be54284c-7ea2-11e7-9108-edda0bcbc928 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211211225/https://www.ft.com/content/be54284c-7ea2-11e7-9108-edda0bcbc928 |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[Financial Times]] |access-date=12 August 2017}}</ref> The board paid the family owners a £3&nbsp;million dividend.<ref>{{cite news |last=Neate |first=Rupert |title=Wilko warns nearly 4,000 staff could lose jobs |work=The Guardian |date=11 August 2017 |url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/aug/11/wilko-warns-nearly-4000-staff-could-lose-jobs}}</ref>
In March 2018, Wilko began to sell 285 of its own brand products in [[Dubai]] through [[Ace Hardware]], marking the first time that Wilko had sold through another retailer.<ref>{{cite news |title=A bargain British brand is here in Dubai |url=https://dubaiweek.ae/news/37074/wilko-ace-uae// |access-date=4 March 2018 |work=Dubai Week |date=4 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112203003/https://dubaiweek.ae/news/37074/wilko-ace-uae// |archive-date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
In June 2020, Warpaint London, a cosmetics company, signed a deal with Wilko to sell their products in UK shops.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gilbert |first1=Iain |title=Warpaint London products to be launched in Wilko stores |url=https://www.sharecast.com/news/aim-bulletin/warpaint-london-products-to-be-launched-in-wilko-stores--7525591.html |website=Sharecast |access-date=22 June 2020 |language=en |date=1 June 2010}}</ref>
In January 2022, Wilko announced the closure of 15 stores with costly long leases.<ref>{{Cite news|date=10 January 2022|title=The complete list of the 15 Wilko stores set to close in 2022|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2022-01-10/in-full-the-15-wilko-stores-set-to-close-this-year|website=[[ITV News]]|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> Wilko paid its owners, led by the Wilkinson family, a £3&nbsp;million dividend again.<ref name=Butler>{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=Wilko secures £40m funding from Hilco as it faces cash squeeze |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jan/04/wilko-funding-hilco-cash-chair |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=4 January 2023}}</ref>
===Administration and closure===
[[File:Wilko Closing Down Sale in Chester - 23Sept2023.jpg|thumb|right|Administration sale, Chester, September 2023]]
In January 2023, Wilko confirmed it had borrowed £40&nbsp;million from the restructuring firm [[Hilco Capital]].<ref name=Butler/> It followed this in February with plans to cut up to 400 jobs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Butler |first=Sarah |date=15 February 2023 |title=Wilko plans to cut 400 jobs as part of restructuring after fall in sales |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/15/wiko-plans-to-cut-jobs-as-part-of-restructuring-after-fall-in-sales |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref>
On 3 August 2023, Wilko announced its intention to appoint administrators as it was seeking a buyer following a period of difficult trading conditions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Butler |first=Sarah |date=3 August 2023 |title=Budget retailer Wilko set to call in administrators, risking 12,000 jobs |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/03/budget-retailer-wilko-makes-administration-move-risking-12000-jobs |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> The company entered administration on 10 August.<ref name="Masud"/> [[CEO]] Mark Jackson said management would work with administrators [[PwC]] to "preserve as many jobs as possible".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Binns |first1=Daniel |title=Around 12,500 jobs at risk as Wilko goes into administration |url=https://news.sky.com/story/around-12-000-jobs-at-risk-as-wilko-goes-into-administration-12937106 |website=[[Sky News]] |access-date=10 August 2023 |date=10 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Downes |first1=Hannah |title=Wilko goes into administration: what you need to know |url=https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/wilko-goes-into-administration-what-you-need-to-know-addL88m8ASrA |website=Which? |access-date=10 August 2023 |date=10 August 2023}}</ref> A deadline for offers to acquire the business was set for 16 August 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jordan |first1=Dearbail |title=Wilko: Bidders given Wednesday deadline for rescue offers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66498064 |access-date=14 August 2023 |work=BBC News |date=14 August 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Fomer Wilko store in Chester became Poundland.jpg|thumb|right|The former Wilko store in Chester reopened as a branch of [[Poundland]]. Outline of the old Wilko sign remains visible on the wooden fascia. December 2023]]
[[File:Wilko branch reopened as Poundland in Maidenhead, 11 October 2023.jpg|thumb|right|A Wilko branch in [[Maidenhead]], [[Berkshire]] in the process of reopening and rebranding as a branch of [[Poundland]] in October 2023]]
[[File:The_shutters_come_down_on_Wilko.jpg|thumb|A Wilko branch that closed its doors for the last time in late 2023]]
Wilko collapsed with the loss of over 12,000 jobs, £625 million in debt and a £50 million pension deficit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=Wilko's former chair tells MPs she was devastated by collapse of retailer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/28/wilko-lisa-wilkinson-mps-collapse-retailer |access-date=28 November 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=28 November 2023}}</ref> During the administration process, it was reported that its owners had taken £77&nbsp;million out of the company in the preceding decade.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldfingle |first=Gemma |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2023/08/wilko-owners-77m/ |title=Wilko owners took £77m out of business in last decade |website=Retail Gazette|date=13 August 2023 |access-date=16 August 2023}}</ref>
In September 2023, [[B&M]] bought 51 Wilko stores for £13 million.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Butterworth |first1=Benjamin |title=B&M agrees to buy 51 Wilko stores after collapse of rival bargain chain |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/bm-agrees-buy-wilko-stores-collapse-rival-chain-2593664 |website=[[i (newspaper)|I]] |access-date=12 September 2023 |language=en |date=5 September 2023}}</ref> An attempt by Canadian businessman [[Doug Putman]] to acquire 100 Wilko stores, slimmed down from a deal to acquire 300 stores, collapsed in the same month.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Aoife |title=Wilko: All 400 stores to close after HMV rescue deal collapses |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2023/09/wilko-hmv-rescue-collapses/ |website=Retail Gazette |access-date=30 May 2024 |date=11 September 2023}}</ref> [[Poundland]] acquired 71 Wilko stores and stated it would prioritise the recruitment of former Wilko staff.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Boyle |first1=Daniel |title=Poundland to save 71 Wilko shops in last-minute deal and rebrand them under its own name |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/poundland-buy-wilko-shops-retail-administration-collapse-bust-pwc-hmv-putman-sale-b-m-wilkinson-b1106526.html |website=Evening Standard |access-date=12 September 2023 |date=12 September 2023}}</ref> Norton Group Holdings acquired the Wilko brand, website and intellectual property for £5 million.<ref name="EveningStandard"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Saker-Clark |first1=Henry |title=The Range set to buy Wilko brand in £5m deal |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/the-range-wilko-brand-pwc-poundland-rescue-b1106859.html |website=Evening Standard |access-date=25 September 2024 |language=en |date=13 September 2023}}</ref> 36 workers from Wilko's digital team transferred over to The Range's digital team as part of the deal.<ref name="EveningStandard"/> The final stores under the previous ownership closed on 8 October 2023.<ref name="BBCNews"/>
===Post-administration===
The Wilko website was relaunched by CDS on 12 October 2023 and resumed home delivery.<ref name="Morgan"/> The Range started stocking Wilko brand products in its stores from 27 October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Saker-Clark |first1=Henry |title=Wilko products to return to high street in The Range stores |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/wilko-products-to-return-to-high-street-in-the-range-stores-b1116159.html |website=Evening Standard |access-date=26 October 2023 |language=en |date=26 October 2023}}</ref> Three stores in Plymouth, Exeter, and Luton were re-opened in December 2023.<ref name="Wilko"/> Two stores in [[Rotherham]] and [[St Albans]] were re-opened in March 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Eloise |title=Wilko reveals further store opening plans |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/02/wilko-new-store-poole/ |website=Retail Gazette |access-date=21 February 2024 |date=20 February 2024}}</ref> Wilko's store in Poole was re-opened in August 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rhodes |first1=Erin |date=13 August 2024 |title=Wilko to reopen store in The Dolphin Poole this week |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24514627.wilko-reopen-store-dolphin-poole-week/ |publisher=Bournemouth Daily Echo |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>
==Distribution==
The company awarded a five-year logistics contract to [[Wincanton plc]] in March 2017, replacing Canute Haulage Group after 29 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wincanton wins five-year contract with wilko|url=http://postandparcel.info/78829/news/wincanton-wins-five-year-contract-with-wilko/|access-date=22 March 2017|work=Post and Parcel|date=20 March 2017}}</ref>
In September 2019, the GMB union announced that its members would strike over a new weekend working proposal at the distribution centres. The strikes planned for four dates in October 2019 were called off after an improved offer was made by Wilko.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wilko strike: Workers suspend action after 'last-ditch' offer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-50003249/ |work=BBC News |date=10 October 2019 |access-date=10 October 2019}}</ref>
Following the departure of Wilko, Canute Haulage Group entered administration in 2018 and was [[liquidation|liquidated]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Canute Haulage Group Limited Filing History |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02275383/filing-history/ |website=gov.uk |publisher=Companies House |date=31 August 2023 |access-date=31 August 2023}}</ref>
==Financial performance==
Turnover for the year ending February 2022 was in excess of £1.2&nbsp;billion.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Wilko Limited overview – Find and update company information |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00365335 |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=gov.uk}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=October 2023}}
{|class="wikitable" style="margin: 0 auto 0 auto;" style="text-align:right;"
|+Financial statistics (in £ thousands)<ref name="auto"/>{{Failed verification|date=September 2023}}
! Year ending
! Turnover
! [[Earnings before interest and taxes|Operating<br>profit]]/(loss)
! Profit/(loss)
|-
| February 2023
| Under £1 billion
| (under 30,000)
| (under 30,000)
|-
| February 2022
| 1,241,242
| (37,572)
| (31,903)
|-
| February 2021
| 1,283,251
| 5,063
| 4,481
|-
| February 2020
| 1,428,491
| 2,069
| 3,752
|-
| February 2019
| 1,508,690
| (2,438)
| 13,926
|-
| February 2018
| 1,619,147
| 8,227
| (52,878)
|-
| February 2017
| 1,517,763
| 17,994
| 16,046
|-
| February 2016
| 1,464,475
| 23,638
| 15,910
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Wilko (retailer)}}
*{{Official website|https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/}}
[[Category:1930 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1930]]
[[Category:Companies based in Nottinghamshire]]
[[Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Discount shops of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Home improvement companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1930]]
[[Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom]]