DISCOUNT retailer Wilko is to close its Rhyl store next week after the business fell into administration.
The final day of business for the shop, on Market Street, will be Thursday, September 14.
Elsewhere in North Wales, Llandudno’s Wilko store will also close on Tuesday, September 12.
They are among 52 Wilko stores confirmed to be closing, with redundancies of 1,016 staff based at those sites.
There will be a further 299 redundancies at Wilko’s two distribution centres in Worksop and Newport.
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What Wilko’s administrators said when we asked about future of Rhyl store
Rhyl Wilko store could be saved as B&M agrees to buy up to 51 of its shops
Yesterday (September 5), it was confirmed that rival chain B&M had agreed to purchase up to 51 Wilko stores in a deal worth up to £13million.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was appointed as Wilko’s administrator last month, assuming all control of the business for the time being.
Edward Williams, joint administrator, 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.”
When the Journal visited Rhyl’s Wilko store last month, its windows had “big sale” and “100s of products reduced” signs attached to them.
Though the store appeared well-stocked, it was notable that none of its tills were manned, with customers’ only available option to pay for their shopping at its “orders, exchanges and returns” stand.
A statement from B&M yesterday read: “B&M European Value Retail S.A. confirmed that it has entered into an agreement today with the joint administrators of Wilko Ltd (in administration) to acquire up to 51 properties for the maximum aggregate consideration of £13m.
“The consideration is fully funded from existing cash reserves and the acquisition is not expected to be conditional on any regulatory clearances.
“An update on the timing of these new store openings will be provided in the H1 interim results announcement on November 9.”
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