CDS Superstores, which operates leading home and garden retail brands The Range and wilko, has appointed Antony Darbyshire as its new Head of Property.
Darbyshire joins the business with 30 years of retail property experience for brands including Matalan and Sports Direct, with the Head of Property role featuring as part of the company’s senior leadership team.
Within the role, Darbyshire will be particularly responsible for the continued rollout of wilko concept stores, which the business aims to increase across the UK and Northern Ireland thanks to the success of its launches in Exeter, Luton, Plymouth, Rotherham and St Albans, along with Poole, which opens tomorrow [16th August 2024].
Likewise, he will spearhead increasing the portfolio of The Range stores, of which there are already over 200 nationwide, with recent new openings in locations including Neath and Widnes.
Alex Simpkin, CEO of CDS Superstores, trading as The Range and wilko, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Antony to our leadership team.
“His extensive experience and expertise in property management are exactly what we need as we accelerate our expansion plans and build on our success to date. Antony will play a critical role in ensuring that both The Range and wilko continue to thrive and reach even more communities across the UK.
“We are particularly excited about the opportunities to regrow the wilko brand through our innovative new concept stores and encourage landlords with suitable spaces to proactively contact us regarding potential occupancy as we ramp up our store launch programme.”