Poundland opens flagship distribution centre
Poundland has opened a new flagship distribution centre in Harlow to help drive growth in the UK and Europe.
Officially opened by Minister of State for Employment Esther McVey together with Poundland chief executive Jim McCarthy, the facility will provide the retailer with the additional network capacity to grow its store estate from 540 outlets to more than 750 stores. More than 6,000 jobs will be created in new stores over the next three years through the opening of the centre.
McVey said: “It was great to be able to open this new centre in Essex for what is a dynamic British company now expanding its business across the Channel. Helping businesses to export is a vital part of our long-term economic plan and this move will also provide thousands of job opportunities for the people of Essex and the surrounding area.”
The opening of the centre and investment in Poundland’s infrastructure will enable the company to offer new product ranges to new stores in the UK and abroad. Poundland said on-shelf availability will become more defined and automatic store ordering for certain ranges will now be extended.
McCarthy added: “The centre will provide greater availability of products to our customers and improved stock management for the business. The depot will also be critical to driving our expansion plans, helping us achieve our long-term target of opening 1,000 stores in the UK, providing Poundland’s amazing value to more customers across both the UK and Europe.”
