Discount retailer group has transformed stores over the past year
The opening of Poundland in Spires Retail Park in Armagh at the weekend confirms the popular discount retailer’s role in the recovery from the pandemic.
This is part of the retailer’s commitment to open a total of 25-30 Poundland & Dealz stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland over the 12 months to 30 September 2021.
To date, Poundland has created more than 400 new jobs in the current financial year and expects to create at least 250 more by the end of September 2021.
Poundland is preparing to “welcome back” customers across the UK in April, as non-essential English & Welsh stores re-open on April 12 and Northern Ireland expected to follow suit soon.
As an essential retailer, the majority of Poundland stores have remained open throughout lockdown. It’s now looking forward to reopening their doors as non-essential shoppers soon.
Millions of people changed their shopping habits during various lockdowns and those who have not visited their local Poundland over the past year may not be aware of the significant changes that have taken place while they’ve been away. These include:
· Over 130 stores now have chilled and frozen food with the ranges set to be added to new locations over the coming months, with the new Armagh store one of the first in Northern Ireland to offer this
· PEP&CO fashion for the whole family can now be found in 350 Poundland and Dealz stores
· Every one of PoundlaPoundlandnd’s 800-plus stores has new Homewares ranges under the PEP&CO brand.
· Launching this week in every store is an extended grocery range with more of day-to-day brands such as Nutella, Marmite and Old El Paso that customers have asked us to stock at amazing value.
Poundland also confirmed today it is pressing ahead with the £25 million transformation programme launched last July, including new store openings and relocations, store revamps and investment in its chilled and frozen food distribution network following the 2020 acquisition of Fultons Foods.
New stores recently opened include Maesteg, Ballymena, Macclesfield and Stratford upon Avon, with new openings and relocations at Armagh Spires Retail Park, Birmingham St Andrews, Aberdeen, Broxburn, Cowes, Cookstown and Arnold.
Barry Williams, Poundland managing director, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Armagh to the Poundland/Dealz family, a key part of our plans to open 25-30 new stores. When Northern Ireland’s restrictions ease and shoppers can make tentative steps back into their town centres after being away for some time – we can’t wait to welcome them and say hello. Come see how we’ve changed.
“We’re cracking on with our transformation programme and our investment in new stores, refurbishments, new ranges and distribution. With the challenges faced by high streets, that’s good news for our customers, our colleagues and our communities.”
All the work on store openings and refurbishments will be done in line with government health and safety guidelines, just as it has been throughout the past year. And all Poundland stores will continue to operate with robust health and safety regimes to protect customers and colleagues.
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