Wick store closes today but new trader will not confirm it is setting up shop at retail park site
Discount retailer Poundland closes its doors at Wick Retail Park today after setting up shop there five years ago but another supermarket has plans to develop the site.
A planning application has been lodged with Highland Council by frozen food outlet Farmfoods to use the vacated unit together with a second one alongside.
A Poundland spokesperson said: "We're sad to be closing our store in Wick, at Wick Retail Park, on August 13 because the lease is expiring.
“Where we close a store, it goes without saying we always work hard to look after colleagues directly affected. We know it’s disappointing for customers too and we’d love to return to the town if a suitable location becomes available.”
The company, which has 600 stores nationwide, is Europe’s biggest single price discount retailer – offering over 3500 products at £1 each. Poundland includes everything from household essentials to health and beauty buys.
A planning application was lodged with Highland Council last month by an agent working on behalf of Farmfoods executive William Scanlon to combine the shop unit that Poundland was sited in with an adjoining one.
The application states that "FarmFoods frozen food retailers propose to combine two vacant units to make a single unit" at units two and three of Wick Retail Park. When asked to verify if a Farmfoods supermarket will be created at the site a spokesperson for the company refused to give any further details.
The planning application is currently "under consideration" by Highland Council.