Wilko to cut 400 jobs as ‘sales remain poor’ and ‘rumours are rife about the future of the business’

Wilko are planning to cut 400 jobs as the “business is in a fight for survival” and there are “rumours” over the firm’s future.

According to GMB union 150 assistant store manager, 95 contract centre workers have had their hours reduced for team supervisors across 150 stores.

An employee told The Guardian that Wilko are struggling to pay suppliers and “sales remain poor and rumours are rife about the future of the business.”

The Guardian reported that Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said “the business is in a fight for survival” and earlier this year the company borrowed £40 million from restructuring specialist Hilco.

Chief executive Mark Jackson told Sky News, “We’ve already begun our turnaround programme to drive Wilko forward.

“As part of this we quickly identified significant changes to the Wilko operating model to enable us to stabilise the business and then thrive again.

“This includes some planned and considered changes to our management structure at both our stores and head office.

“We can’t comment on the numbers of team members affected as conversations are still ongoing, but it goes without saying, we’re fully supporting any affected individuals.”