Poundland temporarily closing 44 stores as footfall declines

Poundland is temporarily closing 44 stores in locations worst hit by plummeting footfall thanks to lockdowns across the UK.

The measure was in response to an 80% drop in footfall in some shopping centres and high streets as the UK’s various lockdown rules took hold, Poundland said.

The variety discounter, designated an essential retailer because of its food and grocery ranges, took a similar move last year, when around 120 stores were ‘hibernated’ in the first lockdown period. The stores closed in March and began reopening in May.

The new closures are due to take place at the end of trading on Saturday (9 January), leaving about 800 Poundlands still open.

As before, the move was to protect the business in the short-term and help position it well for the UK’s recovery from the pandemic, Poundland said.

“Where appropriate”, affected staff would be furloughed, it added.

“We learned valuable lessons during the lockdown in March about how buying patterns change as people stick to government advice to stay at home,” said Poundland retail and transformation director Austin Cooke.

“Putting a small number of stores into hibernation helps protect them for the long term and focus our attention on the majority of stores that remain open to serve their neighbourhoods.

“We hope this lockdown is short and we can reopen our hibernating stores as quickly as possible and we remain grateful for the vital support schemes available to us that help protect jobs.”

These are the 44 stores set to temporarily close: