Home and garden retailer, The Range, has confirmed it is gearing up to open a new store in Neath town centre, at the site of the former Wilko unit. It comes after shoppers across the UK were gutted after discount store Wilko, previously known as Wilkinsons, closed hundreds of its stores last year after the firm went into administration in August, 2023, with the sad loss of 12,000 jobs.

Just one month after the firm's collapse, more than 100 of its 408 shops were bought by discount store rivals B&M and Poundland, saving hundreds of jobs and rescuing many high streets and retail parks from the eye-sore of huge empty units. Later, The Range, which currently has around 210 stores across the UK, acquired the Wilko brand, website and the firm's "intellectual property" for £7million. The Range soon relaunched Wilko's website and home delivery services and re-opened three Wilko shops in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton in December, 2023. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.

Over the coming months, it's expected that many former Wilko stores will begin to rebrand and reopen as B&M, Poundland and The Range respectively. A spokesperson for the firm has confirmed Neath's new The Range is set to open in March, 2024. Want less ads? Download WalesOnline’s Premium app on Apple or Android

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A statement from The Range - which currently has a furniture sale with up to 30% off and an online sale on wall art and frames - explained: "National home and leisure retailer The Range has confirmed it is coming to Neath as the new tenant in the building previously occupied by Wilko. The Range, which has over 200 stores across the UK & ROI, will open a new 17,000sqft store at Fairfield Way, Neath, on March 29, 2024. Recruitment for the store has already begun with further information and how to apply available on their website."

Currently, The Range is recruiting for seven different roles in Neath, including full-time and part time operations assistants, part-time cleaning assistants, part-time and full time retail assistants, and part-time and full-time warehouse assistants. The deadline to apply for these roles is February 5, 2024 - visit The Range careers website here for more information and to apply.

Confirmation of the new store comes after Neath Port Talbot Council said it was in "detailed discussions" with The Range last October and after the firm first began advertising jobs last year, but didn't specify where the new store would be in Neath.