Wilko Enters Into Strategic Partnership With DHL; Unlocks Capital

• Property deal sees wilko complete the sale and leaseback of its Worksop (Nottinghamshire) distribution centre to DHL for £48m
• Wilko will continue to invest in its omni-channel offer, and to improve customer experience
• The deal is the first in a planned series of transformational efficiencies from the 92 year-old retailer

Privately owned, everyday household and garden retailer, wilko has confirmed plans to unlock £48 million as part of a strategic 15-year partnership agreement with logistics specialist DHL.

The business refinance, made possible by the sale and leaseback of its Nottinghamshire distribution centre, is just the first of a series of positive partnership benefits that will allow the business to further improve the proposition and the customer experience across its 402 stores and wilko.com.

While day to day operations will remain unchanged, working in partnership with DHL, who already have several large operations in the local area, means both wilko and DHL will benefit from scale in property and warehousing.  It also means wilko can concentrate its efforts on doing what it does best - supplying hard working families with great value products, easily accessible either online in or store.

Jerome Saint-Marc, wilko CEO comments; “It’s standard business practice to constantly review how we manage our finances.  This property deal with DHL represents long-term stability for us and our team members and is the right response to the current market conditions and our priorities. 

“We’re making smart choices to trade a business and allow us to continue to invest in our long-term transformational strategy.  Wilko remains family owned and continues to focus on helping hard working families to be the best that they can be, delivering great value products to our customers."

For all the very latest news and intelligence on the UK's largest home improvement and garden retailers, sign up for the Insight DIY weekly newsletter.