// Poundland steps up chilled and frozen food offering with new acquisition
// The discount retailer aims to invest £25m in next two years in expanding chilled and frozen operation
// Set to create 1,000 new full and part time jobs
Poundland has acquired frozen food specialist Fulton Foods as it looks to expand its fresh and chilled offering.
The discount retailer said it has already been working with Fultons for 12 months on the development of a chilled and frozen food range.
The partnership means Poundland will be able to offer frozen and chilled food in more than 70 of its stores, and to extend the offering to a further 40 stores by December.
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The acquisition comes as Poundland looks to ramp up its chilled and frozen food operation, with the retailer committed to investing £25 million in the next two years into the market segment.
Poundland will now begin to convert some Fulton stores into a full Poundland format, as well as establishing Fultons’ Barnsley base as its national frozen distribution centre.
The retailer will also build infrastructure at its Harlow distribution centre, which currently serves the south of England.
Long-term, Poundland aims to expand its chilled and frozen offer into a further 150 stores in the 2021-2022 financial year, and as many as 500 stores in the next two years.
As part of the expansion, Poundland plans to create around 1,000 new full and part time roles.
All 800 of Fultons staff will join Poundland this month with no changes to their terms and conditions.
“We couldn’t have developed our chilled and frozen ranges without Fultons’ expertise and now is the right time to move to the next level and bring the team on board,” Poundland managing director Barry Williams said.
“By combining our experience, we can accelerate our frozen and chilled rollout and bring the amazing value it offers to more of our customers across the UK,” Williams added.
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