Major order: Zumtobel Group partners with Wilko to provide a turnkey LED lighting solution for over 380 stores in the UK

Dornbirn, Austria – Seeking new lighting solutions, UK-based retail chain Wilko has chosen to partner with the Zumtobel Group. The Group is to provide the lighting for over 380 Wilko stores and two distribution centres, deploying an LED lighting solution from the Thorn and Zumtobel brands. In the course of this major project spanning the next 18 months, more than 150,000 products with associated control systems will be supplied. By the end of 2017 all internal fittings will be fully LED.

Turnkey lighting solution and services
One central factor in winning the order was the extensive range of value added services that the Zumtobel Group offers. Wilko will be provided with a full turnkey lighting solution comprising lighting design, installation, maintenance and extended warranty. The Zumtobel Group will be responsible for the overall project management, while proven local partners take care of the actual installation in the Wilko stores.

Another decisive factor for Wilko was the energy efficiency of the products. The latest innovative LED lighting will bring Wilko up to 70 percent reduction in energy costs. The broad range of products that the Zumtobel Group can offer through its brands means that the Group is ideally placed to meet the very different lighting requirements at the various Wilko stores.
“We are delighted that Wilko has chosen to put its trust in the Zumtobel Group as its lighting partner,” said Zumtobel Group CEO Ulrich Schumacher. “This major order illustrates to perfection where our Group’s strengths lie: With our multi-brand approach we can offer the customer a broad portfolio of products with Tridonic components manufactured in-house. Added to which, as an international group we are capable of handling a project of this scale for Wilko and offering extensive services, enabling the customer to focus on its own core business without having to worry about the topic of lighting. I see this order as a milestone on our way to becoming a service-oriented company.”

“Energy reduction is one of our environmental priorities within our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. That’s why we are investing in an LED lighting solution which saves up to 70 per cent energy. As a family business we recognize the long term effect of climate change and this investment will help contribute towards reducing our overall carbon emissions. We are pleased to have Zumtobel Group as our lighting partner. The new LED lighting will enhance the customer experience in store and require virtually no maintenance for several years. Zumtobel Group will provide an effective solution for all our stores so that we can focus on our core business helping people to achieve their ‘to-dos,’ ” says Charlotte Whitmore, CSR Manager from Wilko.

Stores remain open during conversion to LED lighting
120 existing Wilko stores have already been upgraded with the new lighting and the retailer has given the Zumtobel Group the go-ahead to supply a new LED lighting solution for the remaining stores. During installation, stores will remain open throughout all the luminaire replacement work, including necessary ceiling alterations. Both the front-of-house areas and the team member support and storage zones will be equipped with modern LED lighting, so that customers and team members all benefit from better lighting.

Lighting for different in-store requirements
The majority of areas will be lit by a Thorn luminaire custom-designed for the project and equipped with LED modules and control gear from Tridonic. The key change in the new lighting solution for Wilko is that the existing surface-mounted luminaires are being replaced with recessed fittings. The main aim is to create a uniform level of illumination with very little contrast and enhance the shoppers’ experience.

Thanks to its broad product portfolio, the Zumtobel Group is in a position to supply the right luminaire for each of the various areas and requirements. For instance, the storage areas are lit by the robust moisture-proof Thorn Aquaforce luminaire, while the entrance areas are illuminated by high-performance CRAFT high-bay luminaires from Zumtobel. Shop window illumination is provided by luminaires from Thorn’s Omega family. Emergency lighting is also included using the Thorn Voyager family of products ensuring full compliance to all regulations.

Energy efficiency and good vertical light distribution at logistics facilities
Wilko is also upgrading to energy-efficient LED lighting solutions in its two distribution centres in Manton Woods and Magor. As with the stores, the replacement of the existing lighting is being provided as part of a turnkey solution and implemented within a ten-week time frame. The main luminaire used here will be the robust, water-tight ForceLED fitting from Thorn, with its integrated controls and good vertical light distribution, ideally suited to meeting the requirements at these logistics facilities.

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Information
This press release and the high-resolution images can be downloaded from: http://www.zumtobelgroup.com/en/press_center.htm.

About the Zumtobel Group
The Zumtobel Group is an international lighting group and a leading player in the field of innovative lighting solutions and components. With its three internationally established brands, Thorn, Tridonic and Zumtobel, and its two smaller brands, acdc and Reiss, the Group offers its customers around the world a comprehensive range of products and services. In the lighting business the Group with its Thorn, Zumtobel and acdc brands is the European market leader. The Reiss brand supplies OEMs with luminaires with a higher degree of protection. Through its lighting components brand, Tridonic, the Group plays a leading role worldwide in the manufacture of hardware and software for lighting systems (LED light sources and LED drivers, sensors and lighting management). The Group is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange (ATX) and on the balance sheet date (April 30, 2016) employed a workforce of 6,761 employees. In the 2015/16 financial year, the Group posted revenues of EUR 1,356.5 million. The Zumtobel Group is based in Dornbirn in the Vorarlberg region of Austria. For further information, please visit www.zumtobelgroup.com.

About Wilko
Wilko remains a third generation, family-owned business after more than 85 years of trading. JK Wilkinson opened the first Wilko store in 1930 and since then the company’s portfolio has expanded significantly with over 390 stores across the UK. Key product ranges include homewares and furnishings, garden and outdoor lifestyle products, DIY and decorating and health & beauty. Details of where to find Wilko stores, plus information on products, can be found on the company's website at www.wilko.com.
Wilko secured the highest level of customer satisfaction on the high street, according to the UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) July 2016.