B&M is set to open four former Wilko sites under the B&M brand in the next few weeks as the budget retail chain continues its expansion plans.
All Wilko locations were shut down by October 23, 2023 with rival retailers appearing to take advantage of the available space.
The new B&M stores replacing the defunct Wilko sites will be in Allestree, Chesterfield, Worthing and Coventry.
According to its latest financial update, the discount retailer plans to open 45 new B&M stores this financial year, on top of the 700 existing stores in the UK.
B&M is launching dozens of new stores this year
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Here is a full list of the B&M locations which will be opening in the next couple of weeks:
- Porthmadog, Wales - January 18
- Chelmsley Wood, Solihull – January 25
- Stourbridge, Dudley – January 25
- Washington, Sunderland - January 26
- Wigston, Leicestershire - January 26
- Loughborough, Leicestershire - January 27
- Allestree, Derbyshire – January 27 (former Wilko store)
- Cathedral Lanes, Coventry – February 2 (former Wilko store)
- Harrow, London - February 10
- Clowne, Chesterfield – February 17 (Former Wilko store)
- Arnold, Nottinghamshire - February 21
- Guildbourne Centre, Worthing – February 21 (Former Wilko store)
- Castle Douglas, Scotland – February 22
- Thamesmead, London- February 22
- Beaumont Lays, Leicester - February 23
- · New Cross Gate, London – February 24
- · Gunness, North Lincolnshire – February 24.
This expansion by B&M comes amid a challenging time for Britain’s high street with Wilko being one of the casualties.
The first store to replace a former Wilko location will be at Park Farm Shopping Centre, Allestree on January 27.
Following this, B&M will take over Wilko’s store front at Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre in Coventry on February 2.
On February 17, the third location will open in Clowne, Chesterfield with the final site being set to open in Guildbourne Centre, Worthing on February 21.
LATEST DEVELOPEMNTS:
Wilko stores across the UK have shut down
WILKOEvery new B&M location will open for customers at 8am with around 160 new jobs expected to be created.
To mark each opening, every B&M site can pick a new charity which they can highlight at the store opening.
Allestree B&M has chosen Sue Ryder Allestree, while Chesterfield’s B&M location picked Just Good Friends Club which is a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities.
The B&M branch will open in Coventry has picked Coventry Foodbank as its charity of choice.