UK retailer Wilko collapses, putting 12,000 jobs at risk

British discount retailer Wilko said it has fallen into administration on Thursday, a form of creditor protection that puts its 12,000 jobs in danger.

The family-owned retailer, facing a cash squeeze after a downturn in trading, had failed to secure emergency investment.

“We left no stone unturned when it came to preserving this incredible business but must concede that with regret, we’ve no choice but to take the difficult decision to enter into administration,” Wilko Chief Executive Mark Jackson said.

Administrator PwC did not have an immediate comment.

Wilko, which sells everything from hardware goods to cleaning products, toys and gardening equipment, trades from about 400 stores across the UK and has an annual turnover of 1.2 billion pounds ($1.53 billion).

It is Britain’s biggest retail casualty since convenience store chain McColl’s collapsed in May last year. McColl’s was subsequently bought by supermarket group Morrisons.

Jackson said Wilko’s had “a significant level of interest”, including indicative offers that could recapitalise the business.

However, “without the surety of being able to complete the deal within the necessary time frame and given the cash position, we’ve been left with no choice but to take this unfortunate action,” he said.

Wilko started as a single hardware store in Leicester, central England, in 1930 but has become the first major retail victim of Britain’s tougher economy, grappling with high inflation and 14 consecutive interest rate rises since December 2021.

Despite the squeeze on household incomes from the jump in interest rates and high levels of inflation, most UK high street chains have traded resiliently so far this year.

4 COMMENTS

  1. I’m a victim of the LIQULDOHN cryptocurrency investment scam, I was asked to deposit £700 which I did and it tripled to £2200 within 1 hour. That got my interest, The next deposit was £3,500 and my profit shot up to £18,200. I was amazed at how little money can make you crazy profits. I invested more and more. When I tried to cash out, I was asked to pay taxes and other complicated fees. My profits had accumulated to £531,000 as it would show on the trading website but I could not access it. By the time it got to me that the company is illegitimate, l had already lost a total of £190,000. I decided to do proper research about the company to ease my fears that I might have been conned and that’s when I found out that they have been stealing from harmless Americans and individuals around the globe. While reading more about the company in pain, I stumbled upon a United States veteran article on how this same fake crypto investment website took his money but was able to recover it back from them with the help of an Ethical hacker. I inquired more about this Ethical hacker and that’s when I was introduced to CYBER GENIE HACK-PRO. I am writing this positive review to affirm that, Recovering stolen Bitcoin from scammers is real and can be achieved when done by the right expert. If by any means you are a victim of a Crypto Investment scam and wish to get your funds and profits back, I highly recommend (Cybergenie(@)Cyberservices(.)Com) OR (Whatsapp (+1252) 5120391), you know why, I am living testimony of their greatness.   

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Must Read

America is threatening sanctions over the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline. Let it

Pakistan’s need for an reliance on natural gas has only increased as our reserves have fallen. A cheap and convenient solution is staring us in the face. But will geopolitics let it take root?