Port Talbot and Morriston Wilko stores first to shut as administrator announces 52 closures

Port Talbot’s Wilko in Aberavon Shopping Centre is to close on Tuesday 12 September with Morriston’s Woodfield Street store to close a few days later on Thursday 14 September.

A spokesperson from administrators pwc said: “We continue to explore all interest in the remainder of the business and are actively working with potential buyers. 

“It has become clear from these discussions that some stores do not form part of any ongoing interest in the wilko store portfolio. Today the administrators therefore sadly confirm the closure of 52 stores and redundancies of 1,016 staff based at these sites, and a further 299 redundancies at the two distribution centres in Worksop and Newport.” 

The closure announcement comes after administrators entered into an agreement to provide rival discount retailer B&M with the option to acquire up to 51 properties, after the administration trading period concludes at those sites. 

The location of the stores to be acquired by B&M has not yet been released.

Edward Williams, from joint administrator pwc, said: “In the absence of viable offers for the whole business, very sadly store closures and redundancies of team members from those stores are now necessary, in addition to the already announced redundancies at the support centre and distribution centres.

“We know this has been a deeply unsettling time for everyone concerned and would like to express our gratitude to all wilko team members for the dedication and support they have continued to give the business in the most trying of circumstances.”

(Lead image: Google Maps)