POUNDLAND is to open 75 new shops by Christmas with many popping up in former Wilko and John Lewis stores.
The discount retailer has confirmed the exact locations for more new branches across the UK.
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It includes plans to open 20 new stores in former Wilko sites, as well as some store relocations.
It comes after Wilko’s last remaining sites shut for good on Sunday, October 8.
The firm fell into administration on August 10 and since then a flurry of rivals bought a handful of stores.
Among those was Poundland, which purchased 71 stores, with the first opening earlier this month.
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The retailer said the exact opening dates for each of the new stores will be confirmed in the coming week.
The former Wilko sites reopening as Poundland are as follows:
Opening on Saturday, October 28:
- Unit A3, Carregaman Road, Ammanford, SA18 3ED
- 13 Institute Lane, Alfreton, DE55 7BQ
- 12 Vale House, Pavilion Shopping Centre, Thornaby, TS17 9FD
- 15 Market Place, South Shields, NE33 1JF
- Unit 15-18 Killingworth Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE12 6YT
- Level 3, Darwin Shopping Centre, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1PL
- Unit 38, Salter Shopping Centre, St Andrews Square, Droitwich, WR9 8HE
- 3-7 High Street, Redhill, RH1 1RD
- Epic House, 2 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 3JA
- 18-19 Bancroft, Hitchen, SG5 1JQ
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Opening on Saturday, November 4:
- Unit 16, Lagny Street, Alnwick, NE66 1LB
- 22-24 Headingley Central, Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2UE
- 48-52 Freeman Street, Grimsby, DN32 7AG
- Unit 11, St Andrews Retail Park, Hull, HU3 4EH
- 12-14 Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LL
- 30-40 High Street, Wombwell, Barnsley, S73 8AA
- Edmonton Green Shopping Centre, 3-11 North Square, London, N9 0TZ
- 41 Hamilton Way, Oak Mall Centre, Greenock, PA15 1RQ
- 32 Yoden Way, Castle Dene Shopping Centre, Peterlee, SR8 1AL
In Redhill, Hull, Greenock and Peterlee, Poundland will relocate into the Wilko units from existing nearby stores.
This will bring the total number of Wilko’s converted to Poundland so far to 56.
Plus, it will open a new branch in the former Wilko site in the Fort Shopping Park in Birmingham in December.
Poundland is also set to open six new branches in former M&Co shops.
M&Co fell into administration late last year and its shops disappeared from the high street in April.
Shoppers will see Poundland shops pop up in former M&Co sites in the following locations:
- 21-23 High Street, Portishead, BS20 6AB (relocation) – November
- 3 Market Street, Crewkerne, TA18 7JP – November
- 38 High Street, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, BA3 2DL – December
- 72-72A Preston Street, Faversham, ME13 8PA – December
- 34-35 High Street, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 7AQ – December
- 27/29 High Street, Wells, BA5 2AA
A new Poundland will also open in a former John Lewis store in Watford before the end of the year.
This branch will replace its current store in Watford High Street.
Shoppers in the following locations will also see new Poundland stores pop up on new sites in the coming months:
These shops will all open in November:
- Unit 33-35, Butterly Business Park, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin, D05 YY13 (Pepco)
- 12-18 Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2DH (relocation)
- Unit 31, 11 Cornmarket, Lancaster, LA1 1AL (relocation)
- Unit B, Pallion Retail Park, Sunderland, SR4 6TY
- 26 Stonehills, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6NA
While the following will open in December:
- 34-38 Midland Road, Bedford, MK40 1PS
- 44-46 High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6BX (relocation)
- Unit 4, Cleveragh Retail Park, Sligo (Pepco)
- 59 The Broadway, Plymstock, Plymouth, PL9 7AX (relocation)
All new Poundland stores sell all the grocery, household and general ranges customers expect as well as Pepco clothing, the retailer said.
Austin Cooke, Poundland’s managing director said: “We’re working at this pace because we’re on a mission –ambitious to grow, create jobs and serve new communities by opening shops customers and communities can be proud of.”
Poundland says it is also continuing to prioritise former Wilko staff members for jobs at its new stores.
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It has already made employment offers to more than 500 former Wilko workers.
Rival chains Home Bargains and Dunelm also offered devastated Wilko staff new roles after the retailer collapsed.
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