Three Wilko stores in Greater Manchester reopening as Poundland this weekend

This weekend, three former Wilko stores will reopen as Poundlands in Greater Manchester.

Following the collapse of Wilko last month, 10 stores are set to reopen as Poundland outlets this weekend, after being bought out by the budget retailer.

Poundland owner Pepco agreed to purchase 71 Wilko stores from administrators PwC earlier this month.

The company plans to rebrand and open them under its own by the end of the year.

Another rival retailer, B&M, bought 51 Wilko stores in a deal of around £5 million, and plans to also reopen them under its own brand.

In Greater Manchester, the three Wilko locations which will be reopening as new Poundland sites are at The Mall on Church Street in Eccles, The Peel Centre, on Great Portwood Street in Stockport, and on Lord Street, in Leigh.

The seven other sites set to reopen this weekend are across Stafford, Nelson, Barking, Southport, Maidenhead, Jarrow and Scunthorpe.

Family-owned company Wilko ran 400 shops and employed around 12,500 staff when it brought in administrators PwC last month. The company, which was founded in 1930, folded under the pressure of cuts in consumer spending, due to the cost-of-living crisis, and debts owed to suppliers.

All Wilko stores will close resulting in thousands of staff redundancies, as its remaining shops shut on October 8th.

Poundland has encouraged Wilko staff to apply for new job roles with its chain and have assured them they will be made a priority.