More than 60 former Wilko sites have re-opened as Poundland stores in the UK in 2023.

Wilko entered administration in August leaving all 400 stores and 12,500 employees at risk. 

Administrators at PwC were forced to sell off Wilko’s assets after failing to secure a rescue deal for the whole business. 

As a result, all Wilko stores were forced to close.

Glasgow Times: UK retailers, including B&M and Poundland, purchased a number of Wilko stores following its collapse.UK retailers, including B&M and Poundland, purchased a number of Wilko stores following its collapse. (Image: PA)

Fellow British retailers, including B&M and Poundland, brought a number of Wilko sites following its collapse. 

While The Range agreed a deal to buy Wilko’s brand for around £5 million.

Full list of former Wilko stores that have opened as Poundlands in 2023

Poundland has completed its new store and relocation programme for the quarter and has revealed it has opened 64 former Wilko sites in 2023, since its first round on September 30.

The 64 former Wilko stores that have opened as a Poundland since September 30 are:

September 30

  • Stafford
  • Nelson
  • Stockport
  • Eccles
  • Southport
  • Leigh
  • Barking
  • Maidenhead
  • Jarrow
  • Scunthorpe

October 7

  • Melton Mowbray
  • Matlock
  • Chepstow
  • Nottingham
  • Worcester
  • Ellesmere Port
  • Brigg
  • Redruth
  • Ferndown
  • Pontypool

October 14

  • Ripley
  • Bolton
  • Gateshead
  • Bicester
  • Peterborough
  • Sheffield Hillsborough
  • Cramlington
  • Rugeley

October 21 

  • Brentwood
  • Altrincham
  • Worksop
  • West Ealing
  • Wembley
  • Sale
  • Seaham
  • Selly Oak
  • Bishops Stortford

October 28

  • Ammanford
  • Alfreton
  • Thornaby
  • South Shields
  • Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Killingworth)
  • Shrewsbury
  • Droitwich
  • Redhill, Leicester
  • Hitchen

November 4

  • Alnwick
  • Headingley
  • Grimsby
  • Hull
  • Lichfield
  • Wombwell
  • Edmonton Green
  • Greenock
  • Peterlee

November 25

  • Stevenage
  • Camberley
  • Barnstable
  • Long Eaton
  • Retford

December 9

  • Chester
  • Swindon
  • Fareham 

As part of its store opening programme, Poundland has also opened a destination store at Birmingham Fort in a former Wilko unit.

In 2024 Poundland said it expects to be able to open other new Poundlands in former Wilko units, moving well beyond the 71 lease options it obtained from administrators on September 12, 2023.

All the new Poundland stores at former Wilko locations will also be given additional makeovers where needed in the new year.

Poundland reveals it has recruited more than 900 former Wilko employees

Poundland also revealed it has recruited 962 former Wilko employees to join its team over the past three months.

In the 64 Wilko locations it has re-opened, 826 former employees have now joined Poundland on hourly paid contracts, with 122 becoming Poundland store managers or assistant store managers.

A further 14 former Wilko colleagues have begun working at Poundland’s main customer support centre in Walsall.

Poundland added it will be able to extend further opportunities to former Wilko colleagues as it secures leases on more Wilko stores in the new year.

Over the last two months Poundland has also recruited 1,200 temporary colleagues to work in stores across the UK and Ireland in the run-up to Christmas.

People director at Poundland, Simon Wells, said: “I really want to thank the Poundland team for their extraordinary efforts in making so many roles available, so quickly, to those affected by the administration of Wilko.

“We know by keeping our promise to re-open former Wilko stores in such numbers, and at such pace, we’ve made a big difference to hundreds of people.

“We’re incredibly proud that so many former Wilko team members have now chosen to continue their careers here at Poundland.”