Leicestershire has lost six Poundland stores in recent months – and shoppers are now left with just three branches in the county. The Melton store became the latest closure when it shut its doors on Thursday, December 4.
The retailer’s stores at Charles Street in Leicester city centre, The Common in Market Harborough, Belgrave Gate in Leicester city centre, Loughborough and Thurmaston Shopping Centre have already closed for good.
The wave of closures has left only the Gallowtree Gate, Hinckley and Wigston branches remaining open.
The Charles Street store was the first to close on Sunday, August 10, followed by Market Harborough on Thursday, October 9. Belgrave Gate shut on Friday, October 17, with Loughborough closing on Friday, November 14, and Thurmaston Shopping Centre on November 17.
Poundland announced the closure of dozens of its stores across the UK in the summer, when the retailer launched a “restructuring and recovery” plan, with the aim of returning the business to growth.
The strategy, launched in June, came after a period of underperforming and hopes to deliver a financially sustainable operating model.
The plan included the closure of 68 stores initially after the retailer was sold by Pepco Group in June to a subsidiary of Gordon Brothers International LLC for just £1.
The closures have come as part of the retailer’s restructuring process, which sees Poundland expect to operate a network of around 650 to 700 stores compared to 800 at the beginning of the restructuring programme.
List of six Poundland store closures in Leicestershire: