General merchandise chain Wilko has unveiled plans to open 100 new stores in the UK within the next five years, as it posted its full-year results yesterday.
The family-run retailer, which recently rebranded itself as Wilko from Wilkinson, announced that it will open shops in a "diverse range of locations" to extend its reach and cater for consumers' changing shopping habits.

Wilko said that it wants to create, "inviting, convenient and fun stores, which provide a great shopping experience and a great range of quality products, good enough to drive footfall to our high streets and other shopping destinations".

Posting its full-year results for the 12 months to January 31, 2014, Wilko reported a marginal sales decline of 4.4% to £1.46bn and flat pre-tax profits at £27.6m compared with £27.5m the previous year.

Since August 2012, the retailer has set about rebranding its 372-strong store portfolio under the new Wilko signage and relaunched its website as wilko.com. It also launched its first-ever series of TV ads in April this year.

Meanwhile, it was also announced this month that Karin Swann, joint chairman and a member of the founding family, had left the business after selling her 50% share to the other side of the family, led by Lisa Wilkinson, who is now the sole chairman.