Overview
- Trade union Usdaw warned a decision could come as early as Tuesday, October 13, and that about 12,000 jobs across roughly 600 Poundland stores could be jeopardised if administration is triggered.
- Gordon Brothers, which bought Poundland for £1 in mid‑2025 and has already closed about 100–150 stores, hired Alvarez & Marsal to run an expedited auction seeking either a full-chain buyer or purchasers for individual sites.
- Multiple bidders remain in the process, including Martin Property Group, Modella Capital, Fortress, Hilco and Henderson, while some parties are only pursuing valuable store locations rather than the whole business.
- Poundland management, led by Barry Williams and Andy Bond, are backing a management buyout aligned with Martin Property Group but Usdaw says MBO offers have been rejected and accuses Gordon Brothers of failing to engage the union.
- Poundland says trading has returned to like‑for‑like sales growth and that pilot stores and its PEP&CO range show recovery, but an administration route could see rapid site sales or closures that would affect staff, local shops and suppliers.