B&M has bought 51 Wilko shops for €15.2m. B&M will only take over the stores once the administration trading period ends and when administrators determine they can no longer keep the shops open. That exact date is still unknown. The retailer did not purchase the Wilko brand name, so it is likely that the shops will be rebranded as new B&M stores.
Wilko, formerly known as Wilkinson Hardware Stores, has 400 shops in total, employing around 12,000 people.
Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, said: “We are still doing everything we can to secure a deal that would protect the majority of jobs and stores. But this will be of little comfort for those not knowing how they’ll pay their bills.”
Administrators at PwC took over Wilko last month after attempts to sell the entire business failed. They have aimed to sell as many stores as possible in order to realise value for the retailer’s creditors.
