Jollyes to open stores in former Poundland locations

It seems like quite a few former Poundland employees are getting their Christmas presents early this year. Jollyes is set to open stores in six former Poundland locations and has guaranteed interviews for the staff that used to work there, according to a press release.

Britain’s award-winning pet discount superstore has already opened a new location in Chesterfield at a former Jysk store this month. Further opening dates have now been confirmed: In Swansea on 15th November at a New Unit location and at six Poundland stores in the weeks to follow ‒ at Southend on 22nd November, in Thurrock on 28th November, in Colne on 29th November, in Carlisle on 6th December and in Burnley on 13th December. It has also agreed to take on an additional former Poundland location in Blackpool which will open as Jollyes in early 2026.

The new stores will offer the full Jollyes range, a frozen food section, the retailer’s expanded range for cat owners, and a community pet clinic with a vaccination and microchip service from trained Royal College Vets. Each location will also carry its new ‘pick and mix’ Natural Treats range which include sausages, lamb braid pigs’ ears and pork rolls.

The stores will be set-up from day one to offer ‘Zoomies’ – Jollyes’ new partnership with Uber Eats which allows customers within a five-mile radius of each store to have pet food, frozen raw food and toys and accessories delivered in as little as 30 minutes via the Uber Eats app.

Former Poundland employees who are hired at Jollyes, will benefit from its new family-friendly employment schemes, which include enhanced paid maternity leave of six months, up from six weeks, and the doubling of paid paternity to four weeks, up from two weeks, a two day fertility leave for each IVF cycle, neonatal leave and baby loss leave.

Jollyes has also teamed up with a number of organisations to help broaden the range of people who have the chance to build a career at the retailer. That includes recruitment of people over 50, people with criminal records and guaranteed interviews for former military servicemen and women.

‛The secret to our rapid growth is the serious commitment to value in a store where customers can get all they need to care for their family pet alongside advice from our knowledgeable and highly trained colleagues in store’, says Jollyes’ chief operating officer and CEO designate Adam Dury in the press release.

Over the past three years Jollyes has almost doubled the number of store locations across the UK, becoming a clear challenger brand in the UK pet retail market. It was named as one of The Sunday Times’ best big companies to work for in 2024, and this year won the Retail Week Award for Head Office Heroes following its highly successful raw frozen food roll out.