Poundland has announced the reopening of seven additional former Wilko stores before Christmas. This move increases the total number of former Wilko stores transitioning to Poundland to 63, underscoring the retailer’s dynamic expansion strategy.
As part of its largest growth plan in history, Poundland aims to add around 1 million square feet of new space and open 86 stores within a three-month period. This ambitious expansion is a testament to Poundland’s commitment to enhancing its retail footprint across the UK.
This strategy has been bolstered by the integration of more Wilko stores and the addition of three more relocations to their schedule. Already this quarter, Poundland has inaugurated new stores in several key locations, including Telford (Forge Retail Park), Stafford (Queens Retail Park), Gloucester (Southgate Street), Lancaster (Cornmarket), and Sunderland (Pallion Retail Park).
Continuing with its expansion plan, Poundland is set to open new stores in Portishead (High Street) and Crewkerne (Market Street) on 25 November. The company has also outlined plans for 15 more openings and relocations in December, which include a notable move into a former John Lewis unit in Watford.
Saturday 2 December 2023:
- 26 Stonehills, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6NA
- 38 High Street, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, BA3 2DL
- 34-38 Midland Road, Bedford, MK40 1PS
- 72-72A Preston Street, Faversham, ME13 8PA
- 34-35 High Street, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 7AQ
- Unit 3, The Harlequin Centre, High Street, Watford, WD17 2TW (relocation)
- 56-58 Lord Street, Liverpool, L2 1TD (relocation)
- 3 Risman Place, Washington Square, Workington, CA14 3DU (relocation)
Saturday 9 December 2023
- Units 4,5,7, Howgate Shopping Centre, High Street, Falkirk, FK1 1HG (relocation)
- 44-46 High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6BX (relocation)
- Unit 4, Cleveragh Retail Park, Sligo (Pepco)
- 27/29 High Street, Wells, BA5 2AA
- 10B, The Fort Shopping Park, 20 Fort Parkway, Birmingham, B24 9FP
- 59 The Broadway, Plymstock, Plymouth, PL9 7AX (relocation)
- Units 13-14 Antonine Shopping Centre, Tryst Road, Cumbernauld, G67 1JW (relocation)
Another seven former Wilko stores will also begin their Poundland journey in December, bringing the total number of rapid Wilko-to-Poundland conversions to 64.
The opening timetable for these former Wilko stores is as follows:
Saturday 25 November 2023:
- 49-55 Queensway, Stevenage, SG1 1DN (relocation)
- 6-10 Princess Way, Camberley, GU15 3TG (relocation)
- Unit 5, Green Lanes Shopping Centre, Barnstable, EX31 1UG
- 4 The Beeches, Nottingham Road, Long Eaton, NG10 1LJ
- 57-61 Carolgate, Retford, DN22 6EB
Saturday 9 December 2023:
- Unit B, 25-37 Foregate Street, Chester, CH1 1HD (Relocation)
- Unit 6, 34A The Parade, Swindon, SN1 1BA
In Stevenage, Camberley and Chester, Poundland will relocate into the Wilko units from existing nearby stores.
All new Poundland stores, both Wilko and non-Wilko units, will feature the latest Pepco family clothing. This includes new lines from lifestyle and athleisure brands such as Cardio Bunny and Bekkin, as well as a significant expansion in baby and kidswear.
Austin Cooke, Poundland’s managing director, commented on the expansion: “We excitedly continue to open and relocate stores at pace so we can bring our best offer, including all-new clothing, chilled and frozen food to customers, existing and new. The monumental effort from our teams continues to amaze me, and it supports jobs and high streets right across Britain. That’s 86 stores in 70 days that we’ll have opened successfully, and no one should underestimate the effort and energy that our teams have put into delivering that achievement – I certainly don’t. It’s phenomenal!”
Poundland’s current expansion highlights the company’s dedication to increasing its presence in the UK retail market. This strategy not only enhances Poundland’s retail footprint but also plays a crucial role in job creation and supporting local high streets across the nation.
