Wilko is planning to shut 15 shops this yr, the retailer introduced at the moment in a recent blow for the excessive avenue.
The agency mentioned the shops affected will shut as leases finish and beneficial phrases can’t be agreed, including it is not going to have an effect on its new openings or shops relocation programme.
The GMB union mentioned it was ‘one other nail within the Excessive Avenue’s coffin’, warning that a whole bunch of jobs may very well be misplaced.
Wilko mentioned the shops affected will shut as leases finish and beneficial phrases can’t be agreed, including it is not going to have an effect on its new openings or shops relocation programme
Jerome Saint-Marc, Wilko’s chief government mentioned: ‘Our historical past is steeped in serving our prospects and communities going again to 1930 however there isn’t any denying the best way individuals store with us and the place they wish to store with us is altering.
‘As a enterprise we’re evolving and this consists of working with landlords for extra beneficial phrases, in addition to places and retailer codecs.
‘We’ll proceed to drag collectively to make our enterprise higher to safe the way forward for over 16,000 staff members.
‘We’ll be doing all the pieces we are able to to assist our affected staff members who shall be supplied any obtainable positions in close by shops.
‘We apologise to these communities the place shops are closing however will proceed to supply them all the pieces they want in close by shops or through wilko.com.’
Roger Jenkins, GMB nationwide officer, mentioned: ‘These closures are devastating for Wilko employees and the communities who use them.
‘It is yet one more nail within the Excessive Avenue’s coffin and GMB calls on councils and landlords to overview industrial leases and supply decrease rents.
‘Empty excessive streets and procuring centres are in nobody’s curiosity and however with 400 outlets every week closing, that is inevitable, except the prices of premises will be decreased.
‘GMB will now meet with Wilko members to debate our subsequent steps.’
Deliberate closures embrace Shipley, Bournemouth and Stockton subsequent month, Scunthorpe in March, Grantham and Redditch in Might, Rotherham, Skegness and Sutton Coldfield in June, Llanelli in August, Merthyr Tydfil in September and Cleethorpes in October.
Wilko mentioned 11 of the 15 shops have another Wilko inside 5 miles.