Poundland is to bring its chilled and frozen food offer to more stores in the run-up to Christmas as it steps up to serve communities as an essential retailer. 

Here's everything you need to know.

What are Poundland doing?

Work on the rollout will continue during the latest lockdown in England so that customers can buy more of what they need under one roof. 

Up to six stores a week are set to get the cool makeover – the installation of chiller and freezer cabinets – by early December in what has been internally called Project Diamond Ice. 

Phase two of the Diamond ICE project food began in October to bring the ranges to another 40-plus stores by Christmas, in addition to the 70-plus stores that were converted by September.

It will see a further 26 stores converted in November and December as the programme accelerates following Poundland's acquisition of Fultons Foods in October. 

All the work is being carried out in line with official guidance on safe working during the coronavirus outbreak and the revamped stores will maintain the same robust standards of hygiene that apply across all Poundland stores, protecting customers and colleagues. 

Will Poundland remain open during the lockdown?

Yes, as an essential retailer, Poundland stores across the UK are, and will remain, open. 

Throughout the pandemic, Poundland say their top priority has been the health and safety of all customers and colleagues and it has a wide range of health and safety measures in place in line with guidelines to enable people to do their essential shopping. 

The new chilled and frozen ranges have been developed in partnership with Fultons Foods, a leading frozen food specialist which last month became part of the Poundland family in an acquisition that started a £25 million investment in chilled and frozen over the next two years. 

What items will Poundland sell in the new frozen food areas?

Items in the range include everyday meals and snacks, including ready meals, pies and pizzas, as well as frozen desserts and ice-cream.

Which stores are being converted in November and December?

Here is the full list:

Week commencing November 2:

  • Nuneaton Market Place 
  • Bradford Westfield 
  • Kings Heath High Street 

Week commencing November 9:

  • Tamworth Jolly Sailor     
  • Bolton Victoria Square 
  • Widnes Shopping Park      
  • Stratford upon Avon Bridge Street

Week commencing November 16:

  • Peterborough Bretton Centre     
  • Skegness Lumley Road*
  • Scunthorpe High Street     
  • Wakefield Trinity Walk*
  • Leeds Crossgates Centre     

Week commencing November 23:

  • East Dereham Market Place     
  • St Ives, Cambridgeshire, Crown Street 
  • Cambridge Fitzroy Street 
  • Lincoln High Street 

Week commencing November 30:

  • Bridlington Promenade Centre     
  • Scarborough Westborough 
  • Gateshead Metrocentre     
  • Newcastle Clayton Street* 
  • Rhyl High Street     
  • Bishop Auckland Retail Park* 

*These stores will get an extended chilled range 

What have Poundland said?

Managing director of Fultons, Poundland’s new chilled and frozen food arm, Karen Rees, said: “Poundland and Fultons colleagues are working closely together to bring the new ranges to more stores by December as part of the Diamond Ice rollout and we’ll continue working during the new lockdown. 

“As an essential retailer we know how much customers appreciate being able to do more of their shopping under one roof.

"We look forward to welcoming them to our revamped stores, helping them manage challenging times.” 

The Fultons acquisition will accelerate the rollout and Poundland expects to bring its chilled and frozen offer to about500 stores over the next two years. 

Project Diamond Ice is part of the biggest transformation in Poundland’s 30-year history, significantly broadening the offer to customers.

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