Greggs opens in former Wilko at Swanley Square Shopping Centre
Greggs has opened its latest town centre location in Kent.
The bakery welcomed customers today (Dec 23) at the site of a vacant Wilko unit at a shopping centre.
The new shop, at Swanley Square Shopping Centre, has created 15 jobs for the area.
It will be open from 6.30am until 6.30pm daily, with both indoor and outdoor seating.
Shop manager Jen Eagle said: “We can’t wait to welcome both Greggs fans and new customers to our brand-new shop.
“We’ve got an amazing range of iconic savouries, Fairtrade hot drinks, hot food and healthier choices available for takeaway, sit-in or Click + Collect.”
Retail operations director for Greggs, Gillian Long, added: “Our new shop in Swanley Shopping Centre has brought 15 new jobs to the local area, as well as providing customers with a modern, convenient new place to experience their Greggs favourites.”
Wilko shut in the town after the company went into administration in August 2023.
More than 400 stores were closed across the country, and 12,500 jobs were lost.
The parent firm of The Range, CDS Superstores, bought the Wilko brand for £5million and many of its branch locations were also snapped up by Poundland and B&M.
After shutting in Swanley, the former Wilko unit was split into three units – with PureGym moving into part of the building in February.
In December, plans were submitted for Swanley Veterinary Clinic to occupy another unit, which were approved in April. This has not yet opened.
In July, it was confirmed that bakery chain Greggs would be filling the remaining unit.