Express & Star

Poundland to sell chilled and frozen food in 60 UK stores

The value retailer said shops in Gateshead, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Nottingham would be among the first to offer the new range.

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Poundland freezer cabinets

Poundland has announced that more shoppers will be able to buy frozen and chilled foods from its stores after expanding a successful trial.

The value retailer said it would roll out frozen and chilled food to 60 stores in coming weeks as it moves further into grocery sales.

The company said it had seen a successful trial of five “shop-in-shops” selling products ranging from luxury yogurts to frozen fish.

It said almost one in 10 stores would benefit from the expansion, which has seen Poundland partner with frozen food specialist Fulton Foods.

Poundland storefront with new frozen range
Poundland said 20 stores would have the chilled and frozen food ranges by the end of the month (Poundland/PA)

The expansion programme will cover a number of towns and cities in the North and Midlands, with the first stores to receive the changes in Gateshead, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Nottingham.

Poundland said it expected to open the first 20 shop-in-shops by the end of this month and the other 40 by early June.

Managing director Barry Williams said: “We’re here to bring customers more of what they love, and frozen and chilled food is high on their list.

“It’s clear from our five-store pilot that customers have given a warm welcome to our Project Ice offer that brings our promise of amazing value to more of what they buy, week in, week out.”

The move comes months after Poundland said it would be selling fewer items specifically valued at £1, with a wider range of products spread across the 50p to £5 price range as it expanded its “simple pricing” model.

Mr Williams said the company would not be changing its name despite altering its pricing structure.

“Being called Poundland doesn’t mean we have to sell things for just one pound. When was the last time you bought a pair of Timberlands in Boots or a biryani in Curry’s?” he said.

“We see these changes as a huge opportunity. When you talk to our customers, they have said that they have to go to our competitors for certain items which we don’t stock, so we think we can really benefit from this.

“In one of our pilot stores, there is a neighbouring Asda and the manager said they have seen fewer people go to the supermarket for other items. That’s what we want to see.”

Poundland has also been at the centre of speculation regarding a possible stock market listing or sale as its troubled South African owner Steinhoff looks to reduce its heavy debt burden.