海角视频

Retailer Wilko is planning to close two stores in Wales as part of a move to reduce its high street presence across the 海角视频.

The firm said the 15 stores affected will close as leases end and favourable terms cannot be agreed, adding it will not affect its new openings or stores relocation programme.

Following a staff consultation its Merthyr store, at the Tydfil Shopping Centre, will close in September. The Llanelli store at Newmarket Walk will close in August. Between them the two stores employ just over 40 staff.

The GMB union said it was 鈥渁nother nail in the high street鈥檚 coffin鈥�, warning that hundreds of jobs could be lost.

Jerome Saint-Marc, Wilko鈥檚 chief executive said: 鈥淥ur history is steeped in serving our customers and communities going back to 1930 but there鈥檚 no denying the way people shop with us and where they want to shop with us is changing.

鈥淎s a business we鈥檙e evolving and this includes working with landlords for more favourable terms, as well as looking at locations and store formats.

鈥淲e鈥檒l continue to pull together to make our business better to secure the future of over 16,000 team members.

鈥淲e鈥檒l be doing everything we can to support our affected team members who will be offered any available positions in nearby stores.

鈥淲e apologise to those communities where stores are closing but will continue to offer them everything they need in nearby stores or via wilko.com.鈥�

Roger Jenkins, GMB national officer, said: 鈥淭hese closures are devastating for Wilko workers and the communities who use them.

鈥淚t鈥檚 yet another nail in the high Street鈥檚 coffin and GMB calls on councils and landlords to review commercial leases and offer lower rents.

鈥淓mpty high streets and shopping centres are in no one鈥檚 interest and but with 400 shops a week closing, this is inevitable, unless the costs of premises can be reduced. GMB will now meet with Wilko members to discuss our next steps.鈥�

Wilko said 11 of the 15 stores have an alternative Wilko within five miles.