Retailer to create job opportunities

From the Echo, first published Tuesday 21st Oct 2003.

WILKINSON is set to create 60 new jobs when it opens in Winton at the former Sainsbury store.

The move is being hailed as a major boost for Winton which faces competition from Castlepoint opening next Monday.

The 34,750sq ft two-storey store in Wimborne Road has been let to Wilkinson through Goadsby & Harding Commercial, Bournemouth.

Goadsby & Harding Commercial retail director David Huck said: "It's important for Winton that a major national retail operator is investing in the suburbs.

"Winton desperately needed some good news and this is a major boost," he added.

Sainsbury pulled out of Winton earlier this year to move to Castlepoint. Its new store started trading there in March, ahead of the centre's main opening next week.

Nottinghamshire-based Wilkinson currently has 227 stores, including three in Bournemouth (Dalkeith Arcade), Boscombe (Sovereign Centre) and Poole (Dolphin Centre).

The group serves more than 155 million customers each year, selling more than 25,000 product lines in kitchenware, household disposables, clothing, DIY/decoration, confectionery and seasonal goods.

Winton's new store is due to open in the New Year. It has a ground floor of 1,615.8sq m (17,392.3sq ft) including a net sales area of 1,442.9sq m (15,531.2sq ft) and a frontage of 35m (114.8sq ft). The first floor offices, storage and staff areas comprise 1,615.8sq m (17,392.3sq ft).

Goadsby & Harding Commercial was originally letting the store at a rent of £245,000 per year on a 35-year lease from July 27, 1983 (five-yearly reviews).

The Winton store will be among around 20 new Wilkinson stores opening in England and Wales next year as the family-owned company pushes ahead with an ambitious expansion programme.

The group was founded in 1930 by JK Wilkinson and is still a family-owned firm after 73 years of trading.

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