By Ben Hurst
Copyright manchestereveningnews
Poundland’s successful £3 meal deal has been temporarily removed from the menu until at least October, as the discount retailer undertakes a significant overhaul and establishes new supply agreements. The budget store’s reorganisation plan, which received High Court endorsement in August, includes closing its chilled and frozen warehouse in Darton, South Yorkshire, this year, with refrigerated distribution shifting to its Harlow site. When Poundland announced the changes in June, it mentioned that although the chilled range would be scaled back, the selection would still focus on key items including the highly popular £3 meal deal and staples like milk. However, sandwiches and other essential chilled items have vanished from the shelves for more than a week now. A shop assistant from Poundland disclosed to The Grocer: “We’ve got no fresh deliveries until October,” adding, “When the meal deal will be coming back I don’t know.” Moreover, Poundland has confirmed the impending closure of another store in September, adding to a number of shutdowns that took place in August. With around 800 stores currently, the retailer is looking to reduce its presence to between 650 and 700 outlets nationwide. Previously, Poundland’s meal deal selections were supplied by Greencore and On a Roll Sandwich Company, based in Middlesbrough. A spokesperson for Poundland stated that supplier arrangements are “still being worked through” following the green light for the restructuring strategy. Even for those without a Clubcard, Poundland’s deal is still £1.25 cheaper than Tesco’s. To mark the launch of new lines last year, Poundland installed a ‘blue plaque’ on 20 of its top-performing lunchtime stores, proudly proclaiming it as the “home of the high street’s best-value meal deal”. The company has also confirmed a major digital transformation from next week that will affect all customers. A statement on the retailer’s website read: “Poundland.co.uk is changing, and Poundland Perks is closing.” On September 16, 2025, its website will become “for browsing only,” and it will “no longer be providing an online delivery service.” Explaining the shift, Poundland says it is “working very hard behind the scenes to simplify and refocus our stores,” promising “even more ranges at £1 and new items to choose from each week.” Whilst the retailer acknowledges the disappointment for online customers – “we know this will be disappointing to all who’ve been using our online ordering service” – it emphasises the site will still help shoppers discover ranges, store locations and opening times. The retailer stated: “We’ll miss you shopping on our website, but it will still be here for you.” Poundland’s loyalty scheme, Poundland Perks, will also cease operations on the same date. However, the chain reassures customers that “you’ll still be able to use your vouchers,” with any earned reward vouchers redeemable in-store until 15 January 2026. On 14 September, Poundland will shut down its store in Irvine, Scotland, bringing the total number of closures in 2025 to 52. Stores that have already been closed include locations in Ammanford, Wales; Bedford, Bedfordshire; Bedston Moss, Merseyside; Birmingham Fort Shopping Park, West Midlands; Blackburn, Lancashire; Brigg, North Lincolnshire; Broxburn, Scotland; Canterbury, Kent; Cardiff, Wales; Chiswick, Greater London; Cookstown, Northern Ireland; Cramlington, Northumberland; Craigavon, Northern Ireland; Coventry Hertford Street, West Midlands; Dartmouth, Devon; East Dulwich, Greater London, as reported by Birmingham Live.
