FOUR high street retailers are eyeing up a number of Wilko stores in a boost for shoppers.
Primark, Frasers Group, TK Maxx and Poundstretcher are all understood to be keen on taking on empty units after the retailer collapsed into administration, leaving customers devastated.
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Frasers Group, which owns Sports Direct and Jack Wills, is believed to be in discussions to take on a number of locations, focusing mostly on retail parks.
Primark is also said to be looking at a number of high street sites, Drapers Online reports.
Meanwhile, TK Maxx could take on several Wilko stores across the UK.
Poundstretcher are also looking to take over stores, Retail Week reported.
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PureGym were reportedly eyeing up sites too, although this is not happening.
A Primark spokesperson said: “We are always looking at opportunities to grow our business but don’t, as a rule, speculate about where we might open stores in the future.”
Meanwhile, a TK Maxx spokesperson said it was “always on the lookout for great stores,” and a Poundstretcher spokesperson said: “We are actively looking at a number of Wilkinson stores across the UK”.
Frasers Group did not respond to a request for comment.
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It comes following Wilko’s collapse into administration in August after talks with a number of potential rescuers stalled.
A number of bids were put in to salvage both stores from closure and staff from losing their jobs.
HMV’s billionaire owner Doug Putman had plans to buy around 200 of Wilko’s 400 stores, but the last-ditch bid failed after running costs dashed rescue hopes.
Wilko administrators PwC have agreed the sale of the retailer’s brand name to The Range in a £5million deal though.
It means the Wilko brand name will survive online.
A message has since appeared on the Wilko website telling customers home delivery is “returning soon”.
B&M has also agreed to buy up 51 Wilko locations as part of a £13million deal.
Meanwhile, discounter Poundland is buying up to 71 shops, with 10 opening tomorrow.
Locations in Stafford, Nelson, Eccles and Barking will be reopening to the public.
It comes after hundreds of Wilko stores closed this month.
On September 12, 24 shut for good and on September 14 another 28 stores closed.
Both of Wilko’s warehouses also closed on September 15.
A further 38 stores pulled down their shutters one last time on September 17 and 38 more closed on September 19.
On September 22, nearly 50 branches closed their doors and 37 stores close their doors for the final on September 26.
Administrators PwC said the remaining 111 shops will shut in early October.
Not all staff have seen out their final shifts in sad manner though.
Staff at one branch in Humberstone, Leicestershire, marked their last working hours by dancing.
Following Wilko’s collapse into administration, former boss Mark Jackson said he had “left no stone unturned” in trying to save the chain from collapsing.
In a heartfelt message he said: “We’ve all fought hard to keep this incredible business intact but must concede that time has run out.”
Shoppers flooded social media to share their devastation at the retailer’s collapse.
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One said: “”Tears in my eyes man, if we can’t go to Wilko, where can we go??”
Another added: “Wilko shutting down is actually the most devastating thing to happen this year.”
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