Wilko
Wilko is a British value-focused variety retailer and household-goods brand founded in Leicester in 1930.
Last updated October 19, 2026
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Overview
Wilko is a British variety retailer whose roots date to 1930, when James Kemsey Wilkinson and Mary Cooper opened a hardware shop on Charnwood Street in Leicester. The business initially developed as a family-owned chain focused on practical household goods, hardware and everyday necessities. A second branch opened at Wigston Magna in 1932, and the chain had nine branches by 1939. The founder's son, Tony Wilkinson, joined the company as a branch manager in 1960 and became chairman in 1972. Under his leadership, the retailer expanded substantially, reaching 78 stores by the end of the 1980s and more than 152 by the end of the 1990s. The business remained closely associated with the Wilkinson family, while broadening its assortment beyond traditional hardware. A significant strategic transition occurred after Lisa Wilkinson and Karin Swann succeeded Tony Wilkinson in 2005. The stores increasingly adopted a variety-retail model, combining home improvement, household, cleaning, garden, health and beauty, stationery, toys and seasonal merchandise. The name Wilko, already used on own-brand products and commonly used informally by customers, became the basis for a store rebrand beginning in 2012. Most branches had adopted the Wilko identity by 2014. The company also expanded geographically, opening its first Scottish store in Castle Douglas in 2009. Wilko's proposition was based on broad everyday relevance, accessible prices and convenient high-street locations. Its own-brand products were important to the identity of the business, while the chain also sold branded goods and developed selected distribution partnerships. In 2018, 285 Wilko own-brand products were sold in Dubai through Ace Hardware, representing an early instance of the brand being distributed through another retailer. In the United Kingdom, Wilko maintained a large store estate and a distribution network supporting high-volume, relatively low-priced merchandise. The retailer faced increasing financial and operational pressure in the early 2020s. It borrowed £40 million from Hilco Capital in 2022, announced store closures and job reductions, and entered administration on 10 August 2023 after announcing that it was seeking a buyer. The collapse resulted in the closure of the remaining stores under the former ownership on 8 October 2023. B&M acquired 51 stores, Poundland acquired 71, and CDS Superstores acquired Wilko's intellectual property, website and brand assets for £5 million. An attempted acquisition by Doug Putman did not proceed. CDS Superstores relaunched Wilko.com in October 2023 and began returning Wilko-branded products to The Range stores. Selected Wilko shops reopened from December 2023, including locations in Plymouth, Exeter, Luton, Rotherham, St Albans, Poole and Uxbridge. In 2025, CDS Superstores paused the rollout of additional standalone stores while prioritising Homebase conversions into The Range. The brand therefore continued after the insolvency of the former operating company, but under new ownership and with a more selective physical-store strategy.
History
Wilko began as Wilkinson, a Leicester hardware retailer founded in 1930 by James Kemsey Wilkinson and Mary Cooper. Its first shop opened at 151 Charnwood Street, with a second branch following in Wigston Magna in 1932. The chain had nine branches by 1939. One later branch, in Beaconsfield, appeared in the background of a scene in the 1945 film Brief Encounter. James Wilkinson's son Tony joined the company in 1960 and became chairman in 1972. His tenure was associated with sustained expansion: the chain reached 78 stores by the late 1980s and more than 152 by the late 1990s. Although hardware remained central to the business, the assortment gradually widened to include general household and everyday merchandise. Tony Wilkinson retired in 2005, when Lisa Wilkinson and Karin Swann succeeded him. Their period of leadership brought a stronger shift toward variety retail. The business began using Wilko as its principal customer-facing name in 2012, and most stores had been rebranded by 2014. The name had already been used for own-brand goods and had become a familiar informal abbreviation. The company opened its first Scottish store in Castle Douglas in January 2009. Ownership remained concentrated within the Wilkinson family. In 2014, Karin Swann sold her 50 percent holding to Lisa Wilkinson, leaving Lisa, Tony and Tony's wife Christine as the principal family owners. The company continued to invest in stores, own-brand merchandise and logistics. It appointed Wincanton to a five-year logistics contract in 2017, replacing Canute Haulage Group after 29 years. Wilko also entered selected external distribution arrangements, including a 2018 agreement under which Ace Hardware sold 285 Wilko own-brand products in Dubai. In 2020, cosmetics company Warpaint London agreed to supply products to Wilko's United Kingdom stores. The company experienced labour and estate pressures before its collapse. In 2017, it negotiated with the GMB trade union over proposed reductions affecting approximately 4,000 jobs. In 2019, planned distribution-centre strikes concerning weekend-working arrangements were called off after an improved offer. Wilko announced the closure of 15 stores with expensive long leases in January 2022. Financial stress intensified in 2022 and 2023. Wilko confirmed a £40 million loan from Hilco Capital in January 2023 and later proposed cutting up to 400 jobs. On 3 August 2023, it announced its intention to appoint administrators while looking for a buyer; administration began on 10 August. The collapse involved more than 12,000 jobs, reported debt of £625 million and a pension deficit of £50 million. Reports also examined approximately £77 million taken out of the company by its owners over the preceding decade. The administration produced several partial transactions rather than a single rescue of the original business. B&M bought 51 stores for £13 million, while Poundland acquired 71 stores and said it would prioritise former Wilko employees. A proposed purchase of approximately 100 stores by Canadian businessman Doug Putman fell through. CDS Superstores acquired the Wilko intellectual property, brand and website for £5 million, and 36 members of Wilko's digital team transferred to CDS's digital operation. The final stores under the former ownership closed on 8 October 2023. Under CDS Superstores, Wilko.com relaunched on 12 October 2023, and The Range began stocking Wilko products from 27 October. Selected standalone shops reopened from December 2023 in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton, followed by locations including Rotherham, St Albans, Poole and Uxbridge. In February 2025, CDS temporarily paused additional standalone openings while focusing on Homebase conversions into The Range. A 2026 agreement with Morrisons was reported as a further route for Wilko concessions. The post-2023 Wilko is therefore a revived brand operating through online retail, The Range distribution and selected physical locations rather than the original nationwide company.
- 2023
Administration and asset sale
[1]Wilko enters administration, its former stores close, and CDS Superstores acquires the brand's intellectual property.
- 2023
Digital and retail relaunch
[1]Wilko.com relaunches in October and selected physical stores reopen from December under CDS Superstores.
- 2017
Wincanton logistics contract
[1]Wilko awards Wincanton a five-year logistics contract, replacing Canute Haulage Group.
- 2012
Wilko rebranding begins
[1]Stores begin adopting the Wilko name, which had previously been used for own-brand products.
- 2005
Next-generation family leadership
[1]Lisa Wilkinson and Karin Swann succeed Tony Wilkinson as the business moves further toward variety retail.
- 1972
Tony Wilkinson becomes chairman
[1]Tony Wilkinson succeeds his father as chairman and leads the business through a major expansion period.
- 1932
Second branch opens
[1]A second store opens in Wigston Magna near Leicester.
- 1930
First Wilkinson store opens in Leicester
[1]James Kemsey Wilkinson and Mary Cooper open the first Wilkinson shop at 151 Charnwood Street, Leicester.
Products and positioning
A value-oriented British variety retailer offering practical household, home-improvement, garden, beauty, stationery, toy and seasonal products through a combination of own-brand and third-party merchandise.
Private-label general merchandise
Wilko own-brand range
Wilko's own-brand portfolio has historically covered practical, value-oriented goods across household, cleaning, storage, home improvement, garden, health and beauty categories. Own-label merchandise helped establish the Wilko name before it became the principal store identity and remained central to the retailer's value proposition.
Home improvement · 1930
Hardware and DIY
Hardware was the original focus of the Wilkinson business and continued as an important category after the retailer broadened into variety retail. The range has included tools, fixings, decorating supplies and practical home-maintenance products aimed at everyday household use.
Household goods
Household and cleaning
Household merchandise has been a core Wilko category, including cleaning products, laundry-related goods, storage, utility items and other consumables. These products support the brand's positioning as a convenient source of low-priced everyday necessities.
Garden and outdoor
Garden and seasonal merchandise
Wilko has sold garden and outdoor products alongside seasonal ranges. The assortment has typically complemented the retailer's practical household offer and enabled it to respond to demand peaks such as spring gardening, Christmas and other annual occasions.
Personal care
Health and beauty
Health and beauty became part of Wilko's broader variety-retail proposition. The category includes personal-care and cosmetics merchandise, combining own-brand products with selected branded lines. In 2020, Wilko agreed to sell products supplied by cosmetics company Warpaint London.
Controversies
2023
Wilko collapse and owner withdrawals scrutiny
The 2023 administration prompted scrutiny of Wilko's financial position, including reported debt of £625 million, a £50 million pension deficit and reports that approximately £77 million had been taken out of the company by its owners over the preceding decade.
2020
Wilko apologises over hot sauce label
Wilko apologised over the label on a hot sauce bottle after Nathan Pritchard and Neil Thomson criticised the sauce as distasteful. The retailer said it recognised that the label may cause upset. The apology concerned the labelling of the hot sauce product, which the two critics described as distasteful.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Wilko store rebrand
United Kingdom
The retailer began changing the Wilkinson store identity to Wilko, aligning the shops with the name already used on own-brand merchandise.
Outcome. Most stores had adopted the Wilko name by 2014.
Brand decisions
2025
Pause additional standalone store openingsStrategyBackground
CDS Superstores was undertaking a broader programme to convert Homebase locations into The Range stores.
Action taken
The company temporarily paused new Wilko store openings to focus on the Homebase conversion programme.
Aftermath
The brand continued through online sales, selected stores and distribution through The Range while expansion was reassessed.
2023
Enter administrationOtherBackground
Wilko faced difficult trading conditions and was seeking a buyer after borrowing from Hilco Capital and announcing job reductions.
Action taken
Wilko announced its intention to appoint administrators on 3 August and entered administration on 10 August.
Aftermath
The former store estate closed, while separate buyers acquired stores and CDS Superstores acquired the intellectual property.
Reported debt. £625 million (2023 administration)
2023
Sell brand assets to CDS SuperstoresM&ABackground
The administration process separated Wilko's intellectual property from the former operating company and store estate.
Action taken
CDS Superstores acquired the Wilko brand, website and intellectual property for £5 million.
Aftermath
Wilko.com relaunched and selected stores and product distribution returned under CDS Superstores.
Purchase price for intellectual property and brand assets. £5 million (September 2023)
2017
Replace logistics providerStrategyBackground
Wilko's logistics arrangement with Canute Haulage Group had lasted 29 years.
Action taken
The company awarded a five-year logistics contract to Wincanton.
Aftermath
Wincanton became the replacement logistics partner.
2012
Adopt Wilko as the store brandStrategyBackground
The business had already used Wilko on own-brand products and the abbreviation was familiar to customers.
Action taken
Wilkinson began rebranding its stores as Wilko, with most locations converted by 2014.
Aftermath
The Wilko identity became the retailer's principal customer-facing brand.
Recent events
Wilko extends face-mask recycling scheme[4]
Reported:
Wilko announced that it was extending its used disposable face-mask collection and recycling scheme at 150 UK stores until the end of September 2021.
Wilko announces in-store face-mask recycling pilot[5]
Reported:
Wilko announced a pilot scheme under which customers can drop off used disposable face masks at 150 stores nationwide for recycling. The pilot is planned to run for three months from April 1, 2021.
Wilko appoints Karen Mackay as group CFO[6]
Reported:
Wilko appointed Karen Mackay as its group chief financial officer and executive board director. She is due to join the business in September.
Wilko appoints CEO and retail and trading directors[7]
Reported:
Wilko appointed Jerome Saint-Marc as CEO and appointed Chris Ward as retail director and Alison Hands as trading director as part of a transformation and restructure. Saint-Marc's appointment will see Andrew Moore step down as chief commercial officer.
Wilko apologises over hot sauce label[3]
Reported:
Wilko apologised over the label on a hot sauce bottle, saying it recognised that the label may cause upset, after Nathan Pritchard and Neil Thomson criticised the sauce as distasteful.
Sources7 sources
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