Retailer Jollyes is aiming to open six new stores in six weeks prior to Christmas.
The acceleration follows an agreement to move into five former Poundland stores that were scheduled for closure. Already planned openings at Swansea (November 15) and Southend, Essex (November 22) will be followed by conversions of the discounter’s former units at Thurrock, Essex (November 28), Colne, Lancashire (November 29), Carlisle, Cumbria (December 6) and Burnley, Lancashire (December 13). Another former Poundland location in Blackpool, Lancashire will also open as Jollyes in early 2026.
All six stores opening before Christmas will feature the full Jollyes range including a frozen food section, an expanded range for cat owners, and a community pet clinic with a vaccination and microchip service. The stores will offer the retailer’s Zoomies rapid home delivery service, available via the Uber Eats app, from day one.
Jollyes has guaranteed a job interview for any former Poundland colleagues wishing to continue in the store when it changes hands.
Jollyes’ chief operating officer Adam Dury said: “We’re excited to have the opportunity to bring our combination of low prices and pet expertise to so many new places before the end of the year.
“For too long pet parents across the UK have had little choice – high prices at a specialist or the limited range of a general retailer. 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.”
