Poundland to open and relocate at least 50 new stores, creating up to 800 jobs

Discount retailer Poundland has revealed plans to open and relocate at least 50 new stores over the next nine months in a move aimed at creating up to 800 jobs.

The chain said around half of its planned store changes would be new openings – in cities such as Glasgow and London – while the rest would be relocations from smaller and outdated sites or major extensions to existing stores.

Around 750 to 800 jobs will be created on a net basis, according to Poundland, as part of the store overhaul programme.

It did not elaborate on the potential impact on staff from relocating the stores, although the sites are set to be in nearby locations.

Poundland said five stores would open in the next few weeks – Spiers Shopping Center in Barnet, north London; High Walk in Wellington Centre, Aldershot, Hampshire; Timberley Lane, Castle Bromwich, in the West Midlands; Crown Street Retail Park in Glasgow and Lordship Lane, East Dulwich in London.

The plans will also see the opening of Scotland’s largest Poundland – an 18,380 sq ft “oversized” store on Glasgow Crown Street, due to launch in March.

Poundland managing director Barry Williams said: “We need to step up our search for the best locations to bring the best of Poundland to UK customers and that is exactly what we will do in 2023.

“We will continue to work hard to find the right locations that match the range of Poundland formats we now offer – from small neighborhood stores to our large destination stores.”

Under the plans, the group said it plans to open eight stores in January to March and a further 26 between April and June, with more to be launched once agreements on lease negotiations are secured.

It adds to the 18 stores the chain opened between October and December, including eight on December 10.