Poundland is bringing its chilled and frozen food offer to more stores in the run-up to Christmas as it once again steps up to serve its communities as an essential retailer. Work on the rollout will continue during the latest lockdown in England so that customers can buy more of what they need under one roof.
Up to six stores a week are set to get the cool makeover – the installation of chiller and freezer cabinets – by early December in what has been internally called Project Diamond Ice. Phase two of the Diamond ICE project food began in October to bring the ranges to another 40-plus stores by Christmas, in addition to the 70-plus stores that were converted by September. It will see a further 26 stores converted in November and December as the programme accelerates following the acquisition of Fultons Foods in October.
All the work is being carried out in line with official guidance on safe working during the coronavirus outbreak and the revamped stores will maintain the same robust standards of hygiene that apply across all Poundland stores, protecting customers and colleagues. As an essential retailer, Poundland stores across the UK are, and will remain, open.
The new chilled and frozen ranges have been developed in partnership with Fultons Foods, a leading frozen food specialist which last month became part of the Poundland family in an acquisition that started a £25 million investment in chilled and frozen over the next two years.
Managing director of Fultons, Poundland’s new chilled and frozen food arm, Karen Rees, said: “Poundland and Fultons colleagues are working closely together to bring the new ranges to more stores by December as part of the Diamond Ice rollout and we’ll continue working during the new lockdown.
“As an essential retailer we know how much customers appreciate being able to do more of their shopping under one roof. We look forward to welcoming them to our revamped stores, helping them manage challenging times.”
The Fultons acquisition will accelerate the rollout and Poundland expects to bring its chilled and frozen offer to around 500 stores over the next two years.
