Jollyes is to open two new pet superstores on the same day next week.
The retailer will open branches at Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and Chichester, West Sussex, on Friday March 14. Both new stores will feature a raw food frozen ‘shop-in-shop’ and a community pet clinic. Jollyes has recruited around 20 roles across each of its two new stores, led in Chichester by Chris Ratcliffe and in Pontefract by Meg Percival.
Both stores will have opening ceremonies led with retired police dogs supported in their later years by the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA), Jollyes’ nationwide charity partner.
Biting through a string of sausages at Chichester to declare the store open will be retired explosives search dog Hugo who worked at Gatwick Airport for six years with Sussex Police, while fulfilling the same task at Pontefract will be retired prison dog Kaydee
In Chichester, joining the opening team at Portfield Trade Centre on Bognor Road will be local MP Jess Brown-Fuller’s rescue golden labrador Mellow and Chichester Mayor Councillor Sarah Quail. In Pontefract, Mayor of Wakefield Borough Council Darren Byford will be joined by community ensemble The Liquorice Singers for the opening day.
Jollyes chief executive officer Joe Wykes, who will attend the Pontefract opening, said: “Over the last three years we’ve been opening stores right across the UK bringing the combination of the best value in town and the incredible expertise of our people in looking after families’ pets.
“We plan to bring that combination to significantly more locations in 2025 and we can’t wait to begin our 2025 opening programme in Pontefract and Chichester.”
