Jollyes has officially opened its new store at Southend, Essex, as part of a burst of activity in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The new store, at Greyhound Retail Park, was officially opened by Mayor Councillor Nigel Folkard who was joined by his wife Mayoress Marianne Folkard, Jollyes chief executive Adam Dury and retired prison dog Louie from the retailer’s charity partner National Federation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA).
The new store has recruited six new colleagues, led by store manager Jenna Virgo. She said: “We’re delighted to finally open the doors and welcome customers to our new store in Southend. My whole team here is excited to bring their pet expertise alongside the kind of value that’s been making a real difference to pet parents right across the UK.”
Southend is the second of six Jollyes stores to open during a six-week period after the pet retailer agreed to take over a number of Poundland stores set for closure. Stores in Swansea and Chesterfield have also been opened recently.
The first former Poundland to become a Jollyes Pets store will be in Thurrock, Essex, on November 28, followed closely by stores in Colne, Burnley and Carlisle in the north west of England during November and December. As part of its expansion, Jollyes has also agreed to take on an additional former Poundland location in Blackpool which will open as Jollyes on 24 January 24, 2026.
All the new stores opening before Christmas are launching with the full Jollyes range including frozen food an expanded cat selection, as well as a community pet clinic with a vaccination and microchip service. The stores will be set-up from day one to offer rapid delivery service ‘Zoomies’ in partnership with Uber Eats.
Jollyes’ chief executive Adam Dury said: “These are exciting times for us here at Jollyes, bringing our combination of low prices and pet expertise to so many new communities before Christmas.
“We’ve had a warm welcome from customers in Chesterfield, Swansea and Southend and can’t wait to now open our doors this week in the first of the former Poundland units we’ve secured.”
Over the past three years, Jollyes has almost doubled its number of store locations across the UK.
