Two Poundland stores in Newry’s main shopping centres will go into “temporary hibernation”, the company has today (Friday) confirmed.
Poundland is to close 44 of its stores – including the two in the Quays and Buttercrane Shopping Centres – for the foreseeable future due to a drop in demand around the coronavirus restrictions.
The budget retailer said that the affected stores will be closed from the end of trading on Sunday, January 8, while its other 800 stores will remain operating as usual.
The hibernation programme will be kept under review, Poundland said.
A spokesperson said: “The temporary measure reflects the 80% drop in footfall at some shopping centres and high streets as the various lockdown rules in place across the UK take effect.
“As before, the move protects the business in the short-term, and helps ensure it’s well positioned once the UK emerges from the pandemic.”
Affected workers will be placed on the government’s furlough scheme.
