POUNDLAND will reopen four stores in the north after furloughing staff for a seven week ‘hibernation’.
The budget retailer, which is permitted to trade under the current regulations, temporarily closed five of its 33 Northern Ireland outlets on January 10.
Four of them will reopen on Friday morning: Castlecourt (Belfast), Erneside (Enniskillen), Buttercrane (Newry) and Ferryquay Street (Derry). Poundland said staff began returning from furlough on Tuesday.
It’s unclear when the fifth store at The Quays in Newry will reopen.
The company said the move was made ahead of the Executive’s ‘pathway-to-recovery’ plan, due to be discussed by ministers on Thursday.
Poundland retail director, Austin Cooke, said: “We’re proud to have kept most of our stores open serving our communities with the essentials they need, but in some places, we couldn’t stay open when so many of our neighbours were forced to close.
“The roadmap will hopefully give clarity to retailers and our town centres which have such an important role to play in our recovery.”
