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Wilko

Controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2023

    Wilko collapse and owner withdrawals scrutiny

    The 2023 administration prompted scrutiny of Wilko's financial position, including reported debt of £625 million, a £50 million pension deficit and reports that approximately £77 million had been taken out of the company by its owners over the preceding decade.

    Source

  2. 2022

    Wilko apologizes over memo telling Covid-positive staff they could work

    Company response

    Wilko apologized for telling Covid-positive staff they could come into work. The company said its advice to staff with Covid symptoms or a positive test was to stay at home and avoid contact with others.

    Company response

    • Apology — Wilko

      Wilko has apologised for telling Covid-positive staff to come into work, saying “when we get something wrong, we hold our hands up”.

    • Clarification — Wilko

      He said the company’s advice to staff with Covid symptoms or those who test positive was to stay at home and avoid contact with others.

    Source excerpt

    • He said the company’s advice to staff with Covid symptoms or those who test positive was to stay at home and avoid contact with others.
    • Wilko has apologised for telling Covid-positive staff to come into work, saying “when we get something wrong, we hold our hands up”.
    • The Mirror reports that more than 20,000 staff were sent a memo by the retail store, telling them they could continue to go into the stores, if they felt well enough.
    Source

  3. 2020

    Wilko apologises over hot sauce label

    Company response

    Wilko apologised over the label on a hot sauce bottle after Nathan Pritchard and Neil Thomson criticised the sauce as distasteful. The retailer said it recognised that the label may cause upset. The apology concerned the labelling of the hot sauce product, which the two critics described as distasteful.

    Company response

    • Apology — Wilko

      Wilko apologised and said they saw how the sauce's label 'may cause upset'

    Source excerpt

    • Nathan Pritchard and Neil Thomson slammed Wilko for selling 'distasteful' sauce.
    • Wilko apologised and said they saw how the sauce's label 'may cause upset'
    Source