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'{{short description|British retail chain}} {{Other uses|Wilko (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Wilko Limited | logo = Wilko.svg | logo_caption = | image = Wilko, Kings Mall, Hammersmith 01.jpg | image_caption = Wilko in [[Hammersmith]], London, in 2016 | foundation = {{Start date and age|1930}};<br>[[Leicester]], England | founder = [[James Kemsey Wilkinson]] | area_served = United Kingdom | former_name = {{Unbulleted list|Wilkinson Cash Stores Limited<br />(1930–1941)|Wilkinson Hardware Stores, Limited<br />(1941–2014)|Wilko Retail Limited<br />(2014–2023)}} | type = [[Private limited company]] | key_people = Mark Jackson ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])<br />Amanda Jones ([[Chief operating officer|COO]])<br />Lisa Wilkinson ([[Director (business)|Director]]) | defunct = <!--{{End date and age|2023|10|08}}--> | successors = {{Unbulleted list| [[The Range (retailer)|The Range]] (Wilko brand, website and intellectual property)<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> |[[B&M]] (51 stores)<ref name="Butterworth">{{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> |[[Poundland]] (71 stores)<ref name="Graham">{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=August |title=The full list of Wilko stores set to become Poundlands |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/the-full-list-of-wilko-stores-set-to-become-poundlands-b1106538.html |website=Evening Standard |access-date=29 September 2023 |language=en |date=28 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="O'Boyle">{{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> }} | fate = [[Administration in United Kingdom law|Administration]] | location = [[Worksop]], England | locations = {{decrease}} 0 (2023) | industry = [[Retail]] | assets = {{decrease}} £99.5&nbsp;million (2022) | owner = {{ubl|[[Tony Wilkinson (businessman)|Tony Wilkinson]]|Lisa Wilkinson|Eden Phillips|Derek Sayer}} | products = {{Ubl | [[Grocery_store|Groceries]] | [[Consumer goods]] | Garden and leisure | Pet supplies | Stationery | Toiletries | [[DIY]] }} | revenue = {{decrease}} [[Pound sterling|£]]1,241&nbsp;million (2022) | operating_income = {{decrease}} -£37.57&nbsp;million (2022) | num_employees = {{decrease}} 14,273 (2022) | homepage = {{URL|https://www.wilko.com}} | footnotes = <ref>{{cite news |last=Holmes |first=David |date=29 February 2016 |title=Wilko opens bigger Chester store on March 3 |url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/wilko-opens-bigger-chester-store-10935747 |work=[[Chester Chronicle]]|access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref><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|The Telegraph]] |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00365335/filing-history|title=Annual Report 2020|access-date=11 March 2021}}</ref> }} '''Wilko Limited''', formerly '''Wilkinson Cash Stores Limited''', '''Wilkinson Hardware Stores, Limited''', and '''Wilko Retail Limited''', was a British [[High Street|high-street]] retail chain that sold homewares and household goods. The company was founded in [[Leicester]] by [[James Kemsey Wilkinson]] in 1930, and remained in the ownership of the founding family. In August 2023, the company entered [[Administration (law)#United Kingdom|administration]] after being faced with financial and supply issues for some time, which put 12,000 jobs at risk. [[The Range (retailer)|The Range]] acquired the Wilko brand, website and [[intellectual property]] the following month.<ref name="EveningStandard"/> ==History== 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"/> The [[Beaconsfield]] store can be seen in the background of a scene in the film ''[[Brief Encounter]]'' (1945).{{cn|date=August 2023}} By the end of the 1980s, the chain had 78 stores, increasing to over 150 by the time of the founder's death in 1997.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Corporate - Home |url=http://corporate.wilko.com/stories/ourhistory.php |publisher=Wilko |access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref> 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> In 2014, Swann sold her family's 50% holding in the business to Lisa Wilkinson.<ref name="Ruddick2014"/> 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> A member of one side of the Wilkinson family, Karin Swann, sold her 50% share of the business to the other side of the family in 2014, leaving Tony Wilkinson, his wife Christine and Lisa Wilkinson the sole owners of the company, and Lisa Wilkinson the chairman. Swann wanted to pursue other business interests and the decision did not represent a falling-out of the family.<ref name="Ruddick2014"/> [[File:Wilko Store, Royal Priors, Leamington Spa (15).jpg|thumb|Interior of a Wilko branch in [[Leamington Spa]], [[Warwickshire]].]] 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=http://web.archive.org/web/20200112203003/https://dubaiweek.ae/news/37074/wilko-ace-uae// |archive-date=January 12, 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=== [[File:Wilko Closing Down Sale in Chester - 23Sept2023.jpg|thumb|Wilko closing down sale, [[Chester]]]] [[File:Wilko closing down sale, Wood Green, north London 01.jpg|thumb|Wilko closing down sale, Wood Green, north London]] [[File:Wilko closing down sale, Wood Green, north London 03.jpg|thumb|Administration sale, Wood Green, north London]] 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>{{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> with shops to stay open in the short term. [[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 |work=[[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 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> 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 name="Butterworth"/> Despite the sale, it was announced that there would be a further 1,332 job losses, with 52 stores set to close the following week.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sillars |first1=James |title=Wilko store closures and 1,300 more job losses confirmed despite B&M deal |url=https://news.sky.com/story/more-than-1-300-further-job-losses-at-wilko-despite-b-m-deal-12955347 |work=Sky News |access-date=5 September 2023 |date=5 September 2023}}</ref> [[Poundland]] acquired 71 Wilko stores and stated it would prioritise the recruitment of former Wilko staff.<ref name="Graham"/><ref name="O'Boyle"/> The Range acquired the Wilko brand, website and intellectual property for an undisclosed sum. 36 workers from Wilko's digital team transferred over to The Range as part of the deal.<ref name="EveningStandard"/> ==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 [[liquidation]] 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/ |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=September 2023}} {|class="wikitable" style="margin: 0 auto 0 auto;" style="text-align:right;" |+Financial statistics<br>(annual figures 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|20em}} ==External links== {{commonscat|Wilko (retailer)}} *{{Official website|https://www.wilko.com/}} [[Category:1930 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:2023 disestablishments 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 disestablished in 2023]] [[Category:Retail companies established in 1930]] [[Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom]]'